Valentine's Day Picnic Recipes

I am always looking for ways to have a little fun on the holidays with my family and taking your family on a picnic on Valentines day is a wonderful way to celebrate with them. Whether you throw down a blanket in your living room, over a desk at work (surprise your spouse) or at a nearby park (depending on the weather), this little outing can be a memorable one; especially with the right food!

A week ago, I tried out a new pulled pork recipe on my family and it was a huge hit. It cooks in the slow cooker which I love. This pulled pork recipe could be made the day before and then packaged into containers to take on your picnic. All that would be required is to take the meat mixture and spread on buns and serve on paper plates. Easy Peasy!

Along with that pulled pork sandwich recipe you need an easy side dish recipe! Now I don't usually like coleslaw but this coleslaw recipe is to die for! You can use an already bagged carrots/cabbage salad for convience and ease and then make a simple but delicious dressing to go over the top of it! Delish!

You can either serve this coleslaw is as a side dish or you can top it onto the Pulled pork Sandwiches. It balances out the tang!

For dessert, try taking these Queen Of Hearts Cheesecake Tartlets along. These can also be made ahead of time and they package and travel easy because of their size! They also easy to serve because they are in cupcake liners!

Make this Valentines Memorable and Special by going on a picnic with your loved ones and serving these yummy and easy recipes! Enjoy!

Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients:

1 (2 pound) Pork Tenderloin

1 (12 ounce) can Rootbeer

1 (18 ounce) bottle of BBQ Sauce ( I recommend Baby Ray's)

8 Hamburger Buns

Coleslaw

Directions:

Step 1: Place tenderloin in slow cooker/crockpot and pour root beer over the top of pork. Cover and cook for 6-7 hours on low or until meat falls apart and shreds easily. Drain the juices and pull the pork apart with two forks until it is shredded. Stir in BBQ sauce until well combined and warm in crock pot until ready to serve.

Step 2: Place some of the pork on the bottom of a Hamburger bun, top with coleslaw or bun.

Cupid's Coleslaw

Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) bag of carrot and cabbage mix

2 T. diced onions

2/3 c. Miracle whip

3 T. vegetable oil

1/2 c. white sugar (or less)

1 T. White Vinegar

1/4 t. salt

1/2 t. Poppy seeds

Directions:

Step 1: In a large bowl combine coleslaw mix and diced onion.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, combine miracle whip, vegetable oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and poppy seeds by whisking ingredients together with a wire whisk. Pour mixed salad dressing over coleslaw mix and toss to coat. Chill at least 2 hours before serving so flavors have time to mesh! Enjoy!

* Pulled pork and coleslaw recipes/pictures are courtesy of Blogchef.com

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen

Quesadilla Burgers

My husband and I tried these delicious burgers about a month ago and I forgot to write a post about this little cooking experiment. I had never heard of Quesadilla Burgers before but I found this burger recipe online and thought it would be fun to try something different from the traditional hamburger. Quesadilla burgers are grilled, topped with cheese, pico de gallo salsa and a delicious cilantro mayo sauce. The burger is then sandwiched between two lightly fried tortillas. These burgers are to die for and worth the work and preparation that does go into making them. If you are short on time you could buy pre made pico de gallo at the store. My favorite part is the cilantro mayonnaise that you slather on these burgers, as well as the pepper jack cheese that gives these burgers a kick! Give these burgers a try at your next BBQ! Enjoy!

Quesadilla Burgers
recipe and photo from blog chef.com

-Burgers-
1 lb. Ground Hamburger
1 lb. Ground Pork
1 egg
1/4 c. milk
1/4 c. ketchup
1 teas. yellow mustard
1/2 teas. garlic powder
1/2 teas. onion powder
Italian Breadcrumbs
-Pico De Gallo-
4 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 jalepano peppers, seeded and chopped finely
2 T. green bell pepper,chopped
2 teaspoons cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon lime juice
Salt and Pepper to taste

-Cilantro Mayo-
1 c. Mayonnaise
1T. Lime Juice
1 T. Honey
1 T. Worcestershire Sauce
1 garlic clove , minced
1/4 teaspoon cumin
2 teas. cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
Pinch of Salt and Pepper
-Additional Ingredients-
12 (6 inch) Flour tortillas
Shredded Lettuce
Pepper Jack Cheese Slices
1/2 lb. Bacon, cook and crumbled

Cooking Instructions:
Step 1: To prepare Pico de Gallo salsa- In a medium bowl combine tomatoes, onion, jalapeno peppers, green pepper, and cilantro. Add lime juice, salt and pepper. Put into the refrigerator.
Step 2: To prepare Cilantro Mayo- In a small bowl combine mayonnaise, lime juice, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, cumin, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, salt and pepper. Place into the refrigerator.
Step 3: In a large bowl combine hamburger, pork, egg, milk, ketchup, mustard, onion powder, and garlic powder. Add breadcrumbs until the meat mixture no longer sticks to the bowl. Form into about 6” patties. With your finger make a depression in the middle of each burger. Grease and heat an outdoor or indoor grill and fry burgers until they are done. Within the last few minutes of cooking top with pepper jack cheese slices and grill until the cheese has melted. Remove from the grill.
Step 4: For each burger – In a small skillet, heat and lightly brown 2 flour tortillas. Assemble burgers by spreading some Cilantro mayo onto one side of the 2 flour tortillas. Lay out one flour tortillas and put lettuce and crumbled bacon on top, Add the burger on top of that, and add some Pico de Gallo on top of the burger. Place the other flour tortilla on top. Slice in half.

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Ashlee, The Culinary Queen