Pork Butt and Chicken with Alabama White Sauce

[JTK]

First of all, I know I'm a disappointment, two delicious cooks on the PBC and no pictures to show for it...I always seem to forget that part.

A week ago I did a pork shoulder for my in-laws and towards the end of the cook, as I was looking at the accessories I had for the meal (smoked jalapenos, pickled red onions, pickled green onions, avocado), I thought it looked like a great meal for tacos, so I made some homemade corn tortillas and turned it into taco night. It was amazing. If you like corn tortillas, you will love fresh homemade corn tortillas.

Last night I pulled the trigger on trying Alabama White Sauce and I am a little angry with myself for waiting so long to try it. My wife and I used to eat chicken at least 3 nights a week, but since being pregnant, she has had a total aversion to chicken....she hasn't touched it since March. Over the weekend she said that she really missed it and wanted to give it a try...I saw my chance for the white sauce. The chicken in the PBC turned out great and the white sauce was fantastic. By the end of the meal my wife had a dish of the sauce for dipping her fresh french fries in. I'm pretty sure I'll have a jar of this in the fridge from now on. I also tried fzxdoc 's method of running one rebar diagonally across the top, I don't know why I didn't think of that sooner but it is genius.

[fzxdoc]

Wow, JTK you've done well on the PBC--pork butt and chicken are two of my faves on it too. I've never made fresh corn tortillas, and now I just have to give it a try with some leftover PBC PB that I've got in the freezer.

I haven't tried the white sauce either, so now you've given me even more impetus to try it as well. If it helped your wife get over her chicken aversion, it must have been a winner. I wish her well. Pregnancy is such a challenge sometimes--I always wished for that egg-laying technology--just lay it, roll it into a corner, hire someone to sit on it and give you a call when it starts to hatch. That was such a good plan...wonder why it was a no-go for mammals.

Kathryn

[scottranda]

How do you make corn tortillas?

[JTK]

I wanted to reply to your comment but figured I'd run out of space writing it as a comment....my process is below.

[JTK]

I picked up a cast iron tortilla press on amazon along with some Masa Harina (I use Bob's Red Mill, 4 bags for $10 was the best deal going at the time) which is the corn meal used for tortillas...after that it's pretty easy:

1. Mix 2 cups masa harina, a pinch of salt, and 1.25 cups warm/hot water (my tap gets pretty hot so I just use that). Sometimes that water is a little more, sometimes less. I typically look for it to feel like playdough, not too dry and not too wet. If you can, let the dough sit for about an hour with a wet paper towel covering it.

2. After letting it sit, I check the dough to see if I need to add a little more water if it dried up or add some more Masa if it is too wet. Then I pull off a piece and roll a ball about the size of a golf ball. I then press the ball in the press, which is lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

3. Put the just pressed tortilla into your medium-high heat preheated pan/griddle. I cook it for 15 seconds on the first side, flip it to the other side for 30 seconds, then back to the first side for 15 seconds. And there you have it, a fresh tortilla, I throw them in a fabric tortilla warmer I got on amazon for a couple bucks to keep them warm and moist until I'm ready for them, the warmer is also great for heating them back up.

Tips/tricks:
- I have found that I need the griddle much hotter that I anticipated, I pretty much have my gas burner on high the whole time, that gives me the quick cook and nice brown marks on the tortilla.
- The cook times of 15, 30, and 15 seem to be key for me, I read that process in one recipe and I really like the results. The last flip generally gets the tortilla to puff up, this helps to let me know I have my pan hot enough.
- Don't be afraid to add water or Masa if you think the dough is to wet/dry. Tinker with it to find the consistency you like. I can generally tell when they are too wet because they really stick to the parchment paper I line the press with, too dry and they crack apart.
- I get a little workstation going to move things a long, I can usually press a tortilla or two while I have a couple cooking so as soon as I pull them off of the griddle, two more are going on.

My wife thought I was crazy for wanting to make my own tortillas, so did some friends, but they all love them and really like that they aren't dried out like most corn ones you buy in the store. Also, they make nice empanadas....just fill them with whatever you want after pressing them, fold it over and pinch the edges, then fry or bake. You can also use leftovers to make taquitos, put some meet and cheese in the cooked tortilla, roll it up and secure it with string or a toothpick, then fry or bake.

[HouseHomey]

Yeah baby! Great stuff!! fzxdoc that's white sauce will ruin you. It's amazing....

[LA Pork Butt]

JTK The Alabama White Sauce goes quite well with the pulled pork, too. Give it a try.

[martybartram]

I keep that stuff in the fridge at all times!

[Spinaker]

The Alabama White Sauce is unreal. Everyone should try it. As LA Pork Butt mentions it is great on more than just chicken. I too, love it one pulled pork. I even had it with some chopped up brisket point, it was awesome.

[Danjohnston949]

Spinaker, LA Pork Butt, Spin are You Supposed to Eat All of That In One Sitting❓ I traveled Alabama a Lot Years Ago, but I Never Heard of an Alabama Smorgasbord❓ Must Be Something New❓ 🤗😇🤗
From a Backyard Cremator in Fargo ND, Dan

[gtaylor85]

Are you making or buying this Alabama White Sauce? Sounds like I need to try it.

[stickbit]

gtaylor85 I wonder the same thing - does anyone have a great recipe for it? (I bet if I spent a few minutes its probably right in front of me on this site haha)

[PBCDad]

gtaylor85 stickbit

http://amazingribs.com/recipes/chicken_turkey_duck/big_bob_gibsons_white_sauce.html

[stickbit]

thanks!!

[gtaylor85]

Thank you!