One thing I knew I would love about making the Kalua Pig in a crockpot the other day was how much pulled pork I would have on hand. Plenty for a couple of meals for a family or in my case, for a couple of dishes for a party! I served both the Pork Tacos with Pineapple Coleslaw and this salad to the motley crew that joined me to watch the Broncos win the AFC Championship game; maybe a redo is necessary for Super Bowl Sunday! This was a lighter touch for sure but equally good. Mixed greens and grape tomatoes (the only kind I would ever bother with in Winter) are topped with pulled pork, rice and a dressing consisting of olive oil and homemade teriyaki sauce. So simple. So good!
I was recently asked by Target to sample some of their Simply Balanced line of products. I’ve long been a fan of their Archer Farms brand and the Simply Balanced line initially launched in 2009 as a sub brand of Archer Farms. In June of this past year it was launched as a stand-alone brand with a new look, some old favorites and some new products.
The difference? Simply Balanced products do not contain added trans fats or high-fructose corn syrup and the brand is mindful of the amount of sodium in each product. Additionally, many of the Simply Balanced products provide nutrition benefits naturally, such as whole grains, fiber, Omega-3s, or servings of fruits and vegetables. The bottom line is that the Simply Balanced brand wanted to give consumers more of the ingredients they’ve been asking for, free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. Many products in the line are also certified as organic; more important to me than ever as my daughter needs to watch her diet carefully since going into remission and organic is at the top of the list.
I’ve discovered a new ‘Super’ Target near me with a huge grocery section. Since I am a dedicated reader of ingredients I appreciate knowing that these products can provide me with some ‘store bought’ convenience yet still fill my expectations for quality ingredients and great taste so I was excited to see what I could find.
The products are scattered throughout the store but I had salad in mind so headed to the cracker section. For my taste testing, I chose two packages of crisps; one a Sunflower and Flax Seed and the other a Rosemary and Date Crisp. I also picked up some popcorn. I love popcorn. I have yet to come across my Whirley popcorn thing so buying a bag of that was most definitely in order!
Were they good? Well, I sat down with a drink to sample some of the Rosemary Date Crisps and was only consoled by someone on Twitter to not feel too bad, that she had done the same thing. Oh…wait, what had I done? I ate the whole thing. The whole doggone package. A little sweet from the dates with the added touch of rosemary I love. I should have known I was doomed.
So I didn’t open the 2nd package until I was ready to serve food and the Sunflower and Flax Seed Crisps were a great accompaniment to this salad; adding that bit of crunch we love from crackers or croutons but with a nice nutty flavor. They disappeared too; I only worry about buying more because they seem to disappear too fast! :)
What did I do with the popcorn? Well, I could have noshed on it all by itself but it was a party so I made my all time favorite Sugar and Spice Popcorn; a combination of butter, sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon. See, there’s my Whirley thing from that photo in 2011…it has to be in one of these boxes! I’ve been making this popcorn for EVER and it’s always a delight to see how much it’s loved. It’s addictive I tell ya! As much as I love my popcorn maker; I will say this was really great popcorn to start with. Light, not greasy or covered with too much salt or other ingredients, it was perfect for my favorite popcorn and it sure was easy and easy is always good!
As for this dish; there really isn’t a recipe for this salad; it’s simply some mixed greens topped with grape tomatoes, leftover pork and leftover rice. The special touch was my homemade Teriyaki Sauce. I like making my own; I can use a low sodium soy sauce and control how much soy and sugar go into the mix. It’s so simple to make and once you try making your own; never again will you buy a bottle from the grocery store. Remembering those bottles from long ago; I simply served the salad and left guests to drizzle however much olive oil and teriyaki sauce they wanted on their salad. It was a winner. Just like my Broncos!
Kalua Pork Salad with Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Ingredients
Preparation
Mix all ingredients in a small saucepan, whisking to incorporate the cornstarch.
Heat on medium until thickened. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
What is a dash anyhow? I have these cute little measuring spoons that measure dash and pinch so I compared the volume with my regular set of teaspoons. A dash is about the same as an eighth of a teaspoon but season a bit more or less depending on your personal taste.
2.2
http://www.creative-culinary.com/kalua-pork-salad-with-homemade-teriyaki-sauce/
This recipe brought to you by Creative Culinary | A Food and Cocktail Blog | Website: www.creative-culinary.com
Take the guesswork out of eating well. Introducing Simply Balanced, a new brand from Target that’s thoughtfully crafted for taste and goodness.
www.target.com/simplybalanced
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.
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