My Favorite Quote and Grilled Lobster

"I did the best that I knew how; when I knew better, I did better" - Maya Angelou

I love this quote. I think it can be applied to so many things in our lives. This being Mother's Day I think it is even more relevant. 

How many of us knock our heads against the wall trying to be "the best mother possible"? How many of us live in regret because of something we did or didn't do with or for our children? 

Well, stop it. Today, right now, stop it. If you love your children. Stop it. You did the best that you knew how.... and when you knew better, you did better. 

Happy Mother's Day - give yourself a present. You are enough. 

Grilled Petite Lobster Tails with Orange and Thyme Scented Butter (serves 4)

8 petite Lobster Tails (about 3 ounces each)

1 stick (8 ounces) unsalted butter

Zest of 1 orange

1 sprig thyme

Pinch Kosher Salt 

Lemon wedges (optional)

Heat the grill to high. 

Place lobster tails (in shell) on grill. Grill 3 to 4 minutes, flip to other side, grill 3 to 4 minutes. Tails will slightly curl. Don't overcook. 

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter slowly, add the orange zest and the sprig of thyme. Continue melting the butter until it foams. Stir in pinch salt. Using a small strainer, strain into 4 small cups for dipping lobster. 

I serve the tails with steamed fingerling potatoes tossed with olive oil and sea salt and a small side salad. 

P.S: 

Happy Mother's Day everyone. 

If you are a mother, happy mother's day.

If your mother is still with you, call her today

If your mother is gone, remember something wonderful about her

If you are not a mother, as you go about your business today, wish someone else happy mother's day. 

Have a great one and count your blessings.

Laughing and Pork Shoulder BBQ

I come from a long line of laughers. The people in my family laugh all the time. 

We laugh for all kinds of reasons. For instance, we laugh instead of crying. We laugh at jokes, no matter how lame they are. We laugh at ourselves and at each other. We laugh when we are happy and we laugh when we are sad. My sister M laughs when she is mad. 

But the worst laugh we do is we laugh at inappropriate times. We can't help it. It is our family affliction. It's not that we don't recognize a serious situation. Oh, no. We are perfectly capable of being somber - it's just that at some point in our somberness, someone will say something and we will just crack up. And there's a lot of us so it's not easy to be inconspicuous. We are a whole gaggle of people (who all resemble each other) laughing hysterically while our significant others look like they are going to die of embarrassment. Which by the way, makes us laugh more. 

The reason I am telling you this is that I am getting ready to go to Pennsylvania tomorrow. My dad is having surgery on Friday. It is serious surgery. My sister is coming in from Virginia, I am coming, my other siblings are all nearby and we will all most likely congregate tomorrow night at my mom and dad's to wish Pop well. On Friday, I'm sure everyone will congregate at my mom's waiting for news.... We are all worried about our dad. Very worried. Which is going to be a problem because it will trigger the family laughing affliction. How inappropriate is that? 

I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has this problem. Let me know and feel free to share any particular bad laughing bouts. I'm sure I'll find it hysterical. 

I'm making pork shoulder to leave at home for the best husband in the world. It feeds a lot and all he'll have to do is rewarm. 

Preheat oven to 325, or grill to low, or use a slow cooker

1 pork shoulder, trimmed of fat (about 5 pounds)

2 cloves garlic, smashed

1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon Kosher salt

1 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon chile powder

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Optional: Cole Slaw (the creamy kind)

Mash garlic. Add oregano, salt, pepper, chile powder, paprika, oil and vinegar. Mash all together to form a sort of paste. 

Rub all over the pork shoulder. 

If using oven, place on rack in roaster and cover. Cook for 5 to 6 hours. 

If using slow cooker, start on high setting, after 1 hour, turn to low. Cook for 6 to 8 hours

If using grill, place a drip pan under grill grate to catch fat drippings) Cook for 5 to 6 hours.

Let rest 30 to 60 minutes when done. Shred using two forks. Serve on Kaiser rolls or soft tortilla's topped with Cole Slaw. 

A Cook's Notes: This will feed a crowd and is just as good rewarmed (slowly) the next day. You can also pass a store bought (or your favorite recipe BBQ sauce) instead of the cole slaw.