Spiked Strawberry Arnold Palmer | National Iced Tea Day on Wednesday, June 10th

The temperatures in central Oregon have been in the high 90s and into the triple digits the past couple days. I am not one to complain about the weather but it is TOASTY outside and Mother Nature did not let us ease into summer weather. 

I caught myself yesterday saying, "I'm melting!!!" on multiple occasions. I literally felt like the Wicked Witch of the West, in more ways than one.

As soon as I got home I made myself a refreshing cocktail to cool off my innards because I was drinking water all day and it just was not cutting it. This drink can be made with out without booze, so everyone can enjoy it!

Tomorrow is National Iced Tea Day so this would be the perfect drink to make and share to celebrate the day! It is so easy and quick! Just gather the ingredients below, mix, garnish if you wish and enjoy. 

Spiked Strawberry Arnold Palmer

1/2 c. iced tea
1/2 c. Skinny Girl Strawberry Lemonade Sparkler
1 shot quality vodka (HRD does not count, I swear by Crater Lake)
Ice cubes
Strawberry or Lemon Slice

Mix liquids together in glass and top with ice. Garnish with a fresh strawberry or lemon slice if you wish. Sit and enjoy, then have another and maybe another...

I was apprehensive about this but it was actually really good!

Quickly make ice tea but making tea in a glass measuring cup and then put in the freezer to cool.

Family Size!

Enjoy!

Vineyard Styled Shoot With Laura Hernandez Photography

When I attended the Bloom Workshop in California, I met the sweetest mother/daughter photography team who take photos in the Monterey/Bay area but are always willing to travel! Check out their website!

They were asked to do a styled shoot (not a real wedding, a dreamed up one) at a local winery. Laura was kind enough to ask if I would design and take care of the details for the shoot and I of course said, yes! 

The theme was centered around Pantone's color of the year, Marsala. You will see shades and variations of it throughout the shoot and also lots of greenery with touches of gold (my favorite). I boxed off the items and shipped them down to California for the other vendors to play with and style. 

I can't wait to see Laura's pictures and how everything turned out! In the mean time, you will have to enjoy a couple of the photos I took before sending everything off!

World's EASIEST Pulled Pork Recipe

I love pork products. Bacon, breakfast sausage, ham, pork chops, pork roast. You name it and it if comes from a piggie I probably love it. (minus pig ears, feet and pork rinds, those don't even count though). Pulled pork is no exception to my list of swine favorites. Pulled pork gets it name from the way it is shredded, by taking two forks and "pulling" the meat apart. Most often it is cooked long and slow on a smoker but I make mine a much easier way and I promise you won't even miss the smokey flavoring. 

I feel a little ridiculous posting this recipe because it is so dang easy and kind of obvious. However, if you have yet to discover the magic of making pulled pork in your crock pot let me take the next couple minutes and enlighten you. From my brief guesstimations from the million times I have made this, it takes about ten minutes of your time. Everyone has ten minutes to spare to make a home cooked meal, right?!? If not, then you probably have some other things you should be focusing on than crock pot meals. 

Generally when I make this I do not put any kind of sauce on it until the very end. Sometimes I use BBQ sauce, other times I use it in tacos and top with chili verde (my favorite) or sometimes I just like to eat it plain! It is so versatil,e the options are endless with what you can do with it!

Let me know what you end up using the pulled pork for once you make it!

World's Easiest Pulled Pork Recipe

2 -2.5 lb. Pork Shoulder Roast
1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
1 tsp. pepper
BBQ Sauce of Your Choice

Place pork shoulder roast in crock pot and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Set crock pot to low setting and cook for 5 hours. DO NOT open the lid during this time, the heat will escape. Just let it do it's thang. After 5 hours, remove from crock pot, place on cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Once it has rested and slightly cooled, begin to pull the pork by placing one large fork in the roast to hold and using the other to shred the meat. Discard any chunks or fat. DO NOT drain any of the drippings from the crock pot. Toss the pulled pork back into the crock pot, stir thoroughly and cook for another two hours on low. Use atop hamburger buns with your favorite BBQ sauce, inside a tortilla with chile verde for a taco or any other way you may like!

This is so easy. Plug in your crockpot.

Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.

Set on low.

Cook for five hours.

Shred and toss back into pan with drippings for another two hours.

Voila! The easiest pulled pork EVER.