Muscle Shoals

Low And Slow... Down Alabama Way

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

Ok, if you have not seen the documentary on Muscle Shoals sound studio you need to.  Great story... Awesome music!  In the Blues...  they talk about going down south to fetch a Mojo Hand.  Well, Muscle Shoals had that kind of magic that led to an incredible sound.  Everyone from the Stones, and Paul Simon to legends like Wilson Pickett and Percy Sledge.  

I think one of the coolest things is that a bunch of white boys called the "Swampers" were laying down the soul back beat groove as the studio musicians.  Who knew?  

So come on in and get your funk on with some down home soul music, pulled pork and a little Sweet Tea. 

The Pots are on...

The Plate... 

Spicy Chipotle Pulled Pork (Award Winning!)

Ok this is the simplest, most delicious things you will ever make.  A friend of mine was appalled that I would attempt pulled pork in the oven instead of my "Big Green Egg".  So appalled in fact that he declared a "Butt Off" competition. He would cook a Boston Butt on the Green Egg and put it up against my "Oven Butt".  Drum roll please... I won! Wahoo! I never won a "Butt Off" before.

Anyway, it's winter time man and I didn't feel like getting out in the cold.  Besides, this is so easy and hey you start off with beer... how can you go wrong?  So, get cooking and challenge your buds to a "Butt Off".  

Good luck!

What you need... 

1 whole pork butt (4-5 lbs)

2 onions, peeled and quartered

Salt and freshly ground pepper

1 can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (6oz)

2 bottles of beer (any kind will do)

6 tbls brown sugar

What you do...

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Place the onions in the bottom of the pot

Salt and pepper the pork and then place on top of onions

Pour the chipotle peppers over the top

Crack open a couple of beers and pour them over the whole thing

Now... add the brown sugar and stir

Cover the pot and put it in the oven for at least 6 hours

When it's done carefully pull the pork out of the pot and shred on cutting board with two forks

Then return the meat to the pot and keep in the juice until you serve it

The Playlist... 

Muscle Shoals

Love love this music.  Some of the greatest hits we grew up with are all here.  Some you've heard a hundred times as well as some rare versions of old classics (check out Free Bird).  I still can't get over the groove the "Swampers" lay down... check out "I'll Take You There" by the Staple Singers.  Paul Simon called Stax records and told Mr. Bell he wanted those same black guys to play on his new record.  Mr. Bell explained that those studio musicians were not black, but pretty pale.  Love it!

("The Playlist" runs on Spotify. Don't have Spotify?... Click here it's free )

The Bar...

 Sweet Tea 

3 oz Firefly Sweet Tea flavored vodka
3 oz spring water
lemon twist

Mix and sit... pull up a rocker and crank up the music.  Let Etta talk to ya! "Tell Mama!"

Great Story... Awesome Music!

Please... Day Drink Responsibly

 & 

Keep On Cookin'!