Gingerbread Pear Cake

We love gingerbread and since I didn't feel up to going through with
 the whole business of cutting and decorating gingerbread people,
I decided to get the holiday baking started with a
*semi-homemade* gingerbread cake.

This couldn't be any easier and the flavor combination of gingerbread,
pears, and pecans is just fabulous!

2 tablespoons real butter, melted
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 (16 ounce) cans pear slices, well drained
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1 (14.5 ounce) package gingerbread cake mix

1. Preheat oven to 350*

2. Mix the melted butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar in a 9-inch round cake pan.

3. Arrange pear slices over sugar mixture.

4. Sprinkle pecans around the pears.

5. .Prepare the cake mix according to package directions,
and pour over the pears and pecans in the cake pan.
6. Bake approximately 50 minutes.

7. Cool slightly before turning out onto a serving dish.

Easy, no-fuss holiday dessert!

Barbeque Pork Sandwiches

My husband frequently says, "We have the best leftovers!"

It's a good thing too because leftovers is exactly what we're having for dinner tonight.

Specifically, we are having pulled pork barbeque sandwiches

and pasta salad.  We have had these sandwiches several times over

the  years and they are always amazing. 

Also, the preparation is ridiculously easy. 

2.5 lb. pork butt roast

salt and pepper

1 1/2c. beef broth

1/4c. brewed coffee, black

1 bottle bbq sauce

kaiser buns

1.  Cut roast in half and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

2.  Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on Low for about

6 hours, or until done.

3.  Remove pork to a cutting board and dump the liquid

(you don't need it anymore).

4.  Shred the pork (I just use two regular forks for this)

and return to the slow cooker.

5.  Add a bottle of bbq sauce (we like Stubb's Original) and mix together.

6.  Pile onto toasted kaiser buns and serve immediately.