Pork Posole & Corn Bread

I saw this recipe in Family Circle magazine and thought it looked pretty good, even though I had never heard of it.  Come to find out that it’s a pretty popular Mexican dish.  The hearty stew is filling and yummy, and you can’t beat the sweet corn bread on top.  Slow cooker recipes make me happy!  This one lasted us about 3 nights so it’s perfect to cook on a Sunday night and enjoy during the week.

Meal Planning: This dish is pretty all inclusive so you don’t necessarily need anything added!  Meat, veggies and bread all in one.

Ingredients:
-3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, well trimmed and cut into 1” chunks

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/2 tsp black pepper

-1 Tbsp canola oil

-4 large carrots, cut into 3/4” pieces

-2 onions, chopped

-3 stalks celery, chopped (this one isn’t in the recipe, but I usually add it anyway)

-2 Tbsp flour

-3 tsp chili powder

-1 tsp dried oregano

-1.5 cups chicken broth

-1 box (8.5 oz) corn muffin mix

-2 eggs

-Zest of 1 lime plus 1 Tbsp lime juice

-1 can (15 oz) white hominy, rinsed and drained

-2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)

Directions:

1.  Sprinkle pork with 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper.  Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook pork 5 minutes, stirring often, in batches, or until browned.  Remove pork to slow cooker (I usually let it sit on paper towels for a minute to get the excess oil off).

2.  Add carrots and onions (celery too) to skillet and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper; cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.  Stir in flour, chili powder, oregano, and garlic; cook 1 minute then remove to slow cooker. 

Add broth to skillet and bring to a boil (scrape the bottom of the pan to get all the seasoning up as it boils); pour into slow cooker.  Cover; cook on High for 4.5 hours or Low for 6.5 hours.

3.  When there is 1 hour cook time remaining, stir together corn muffin mix, eggs, lime zest, 1 tsp cilantro and 1/4 cup water.  Removed cover; stir in hominy, lime juice and 2 Tbsp cilantro.  Dollop corn muffin mixture on top.  Place cotton dish towel over slow cooker bowl then top with cover; cook for remaining cook time or until top is firm.