I really enjoy pork so imagine my delight when Murray Valley Pork offered to send a few samples for me to try out. When I lived in Victoria, I wasn’t too far away from Corrowa in New South Wales where they’re headquartered so I was familiar with them. Now their products are available at local butchers in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland where I am.
Their local rep showed up at my door with a giant rack of pork, a smaller roast and two packages of pork bbq ready to eat. There was no requirement for me to write about them but who could resist? Not me. I cooked the smaller roast and as usual, John ate the crackling and I ate the meat along with homemade chunky applesauce. We were both happy. The meat was succulent and tender.
Yesterday, my friend Rani from Brisbane, came up so her 8-year old daughter Gita could play with Charlie. Yes, my dog has play dates. She fed him a handful of liver treats while he did a trick for every one. Then they played in the pool for hours and all I could hear was laughter and splashes. When there was no noise, I went outside and the ball was in the skimmer. Tragedy had struck. Ball was retrieved and it was time for lunch.
The bbq pork is a large portion for my household so I was happy to share with Rani who lived in the states and Canada for many years. When the pork was delivered I was told that the bbq wasn’t like American bbq because it wasn’t spicy. Imagine his surprise when I said that not all American bbq is spicy. Texas is a bit spicy but North Carolina sauce has more vinegar and Tennessee and Georgia is sweet. I lived in Tennessee for years and the Murray Valley BBQ pork would make any Tennessean smile.
Gita ate a whole sandwich and they were big. I’ll admit that I ate the whole thing too. The sandwiches were wonderful but what I liked as much as the smoky flavour was the fact that the meat wasn’t filled with globs of fat. I’m not a gloppy fat lover, especially in my bbq. Definite win.
If you’re in Australia and you like BBQ as much as I do and don’t have the time to slow roast your pork, check Murray Valley Pork’s where to buy Murray Valley Pork link. There are five butchers near me so I’m going to be fine.
Even though there were four of us for lunch, we had plenty of BBQ left so for dinner I made roasted sweet potatoes and stuffed them with BBQ and sprinkled it with cheddar cheese and put the potato back into the oven to melt. It was a perfect dinner.
My thanks to Murray Valley Pork for making my day! What about the rack of pork? I’ve invited the oldies from John’s dad’s table at the nursing home for lunch next week. They will be over the moon.
Mmmmmm, pulled pork! What a great initiative they have, selling it already prepared!
I was gonna ay something about the food and then I saw Charlie’s face and I just wanna squeeze him and give him smooches lol I bet my Peluci would love a playdate with Charlie too. And one of those yummy sandwiches 😉
This pulled pork looks amazing. Something I would not mind having in my freezer for the nights I don’t feel like cooking 🙂
Haven’t tried Murray Valley Pork before.. but you sure make it look and sound incredibly delicious Maureen.
Love your idea of stuffed roasted sweet potatoes with BBQ pulled pork, sounds like a great combination. I would never think of doing that, thanks.
This sounds like my kind of BBQ. You can always add spicy to the BBQ if you like, but you can’t take it out.
I wish I had one of these sandwiches! Love the sauce! The dog and girl are super cute!
I love pork too. I think you did Murray proud. I am going to use your stuffed potato idea for when the guys visit and want just a little more. Yum.
I remember my first visit to the states. We had to go to the Hard Rock Cafe to get a “Pig sandwich”. Little did I realise i ate pig sandwiches everyday for lunch. Pig sounds so much better than pulled pork though. They are possibly one of the best sandwiches ever.
Prepared pulled pork! An idea whose time has come. Yum.
Maureen, that sweet potato at the end looks like the most savory, delicious art. What a treat you got with this pork!
Charlie has a play date … that’s so sweet. As a proud Ontarian, I’ll put up our pork against anyone’s. It’s lean and you don’t have to cook it to shoe leather texture to get the best flavour. The 1987 slogan “pork … the other white meat” has been pretty successful in bringing pork into more people’s kitchens even if chicken is still the top contender. 🙂
You are just so lovely Maureen….& so are your pictures :))
Sounds like you all enjoyed your day immensely.
I know my fella would love that pulled pork, he has really gotten into it since we visited Memphis a couple of years ago but its not widely available in the UK yet, its gaining popularity so I’m sure it will become easier to get soon.
I read this just before dinner. Now I wish I had this to eat. Love the sweet potatoes.
Fantastic, Maureen. How wonderful to be sent this wonderful package of pork! I didn’t know you could buy pulled pork like that. I do love the sound of the roast with the crackle and crunchy apple sauce. And how lovely that Charlie has friends and playdates! He is blessed! xx
What a great idea to have pulled pork ready to go – and lucky you to have leftovers with sweet potato and cheese. Yum! But I’m with Charlie – roast pork with crackling is my favourite roast of all time.
I wondered what you were going to do with that beautiful roast 🙂 The pork sandwiches look wonderful but your doggy and Gita steal the show, so adorable!
What a handy idea – it’s always great to have some meals that don’t require much thought.
I especially love the baked sweet potato idea – I might be borrowing that one soon.
Awesome pork swag! And cute dog!!!!! Yep I am a North Carolina pulled pork kinda gal, that is where I discovered this dish. I love arguing with my neighbors to the South that what we call bbq chicken they call rotisserie.
Well I’m glad you decided to write about it. And lucky you to get those samples. I love it when that happens. 🙂 That pulled pork looks so delicious and I love your idea of pulled pork stuffed sweet potatoes. Pinned.
Looks like your gifts of pork made many happy, Maureen =) Very tickled that Tennessee-style barbecue pork is available in Australia! P.s. Love the sound of Queensland….It conjures up castles and turrets…Well, I do know that one king is very happy in his kingdom thanks to the culinary skills of his queen =)
You lucky girl – get someone to send you pork and say “please try this”. 🙂 I love pork and both of these look awesome. I haven’t had a BBQ pulled pork sandwich in ages and now I’m craving one.
OMG Maureen!!
That looks so good!! You know how much I love pulled pork, I am salivating….
There was something I didn’t quite understand…. what did you mean by the term, “leftover pulled pork” :0
Are you kidding me, that is something I am totally unfamiliar with!!
Thanks so much for sharing
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
I know but after four big sandwiches, there was enough to stuff 2 baked potatoes. Heaven.
Oh, I can swallow the whole sandwich in 3 seconds. Looks so good! My family would go nuts with BBQ pork sandwich.
BTW, is your dog a labradoodle? I have one similar to yours.
Oh, lucky you Maureen and those you were feeding – and lovely to see you up and about.
Oooh yummy! Pork is my favourite meat and this looks delicious indeed Maureen 🙂
Wow, lucky you! Free meat, and at such an amazing quality. We love pulled pork too but usually they are way too fatty and rich for our taste, this ready made looks wonderful. I love the coleslaw on it too, so good. Can’t wait to see the other recipes.
I’m not a gloppy fat lover either. 🙂 All these pork dishes you made sound fantastic!!! I’m with John though, the crackling is the very best part. 🙂
That looks delicious! I’ve cooked with their pork before too and it was really good. It was a moisture infused cut that was prebrined.
I loved their pulled pork ready-to-eat. I got two packages and the next package is all mine!
OMG those pork sandwiches look to die for. I think I could have polished off the whole sandwich too
Maureen, I love pork, pulled or otherwise. But it has never occurred to me to put it in a baked sweet potato — you are a clever girl! Looks and sounds delightful!
Jean, I didn’t either but I was talking with a food blogger friend who said she wanted to try that in a sweet potato and well, I had to do it. 🙂
Thanks for the great tip Maureen – I’ve already looked up where I can buy it!! Pork is the favoured meat in our house when it comes to grilling on the spit. Mr K makes a ‘kontosouvli’ – which is a grilled pork neck that has been marinated with onions, wine and spices. It’s delish – the next one will be with Murray Valley Pork!!
Mmm pulled pork. We just came back from a trip from Tennessee and we ate SO much pulled pork, brisket, bbq, ribs, etc… and instead of getting tired of it, I just want MORE! These look amazing.
YUM! Did Charlie get any?