Need some food ideas for a fabulous 4th of July celebration? You’ll love this Perfect Pulled Pork with a side of Ultimate Baked Beans. They’re great for holidays, parties with friends, and summer days when you want to have fun with your family and not spend all day in kitchen! :) Like yesterday for example- we hung out by the pool all day and when we got home, the last thing I wanted to do was think about what to fix for dinner. We could’ve stopped for fast food on the way home- but we didn’t have to. :) We had delicious pulled pork sandwiches and hearty, meaty, ultimate baked beans waiting on us. The pulled pork cooked in the crock pot all day and took less than 5 mins to pull apart because it was so tender, juicy and falling off the bone. The baked beans were made ahead and all I had to do was get them out of the fridge and pop ‘em in oven.
You can check out the Ultimate Baked Beans recipe for specifics on how I did the pulled pork in the crock pot. Another reason to check out it out? See that bacon up there? I cooked it in the oven. :D
I’ve been doing it this way for awhile now and it turns out *perfectly* done. Check out the recipe- it tells you exactly how I do it! :)
BTW, have you tried whole wheat hamburger buns? Let me be the first to say, I *hate* whole wheat bread. Okay, hate is a strong word. I really, really dislike whole wheat bread. I love bread, but unfortunately for my bathing suit, I really, really dislike whole wheat bread. :p Maybe it’s the texture, or the color, or the aftertaste, or I don’t know what. But I actually really like whole wheat hamburger buns! I can’t tell the difference! lol. Especially with these pulled pork sandwiches. I got two different kinds the other day, just in case- regular buns and whole wheat buns. I had one of each last night and I couldn’t tell the difference. I’m sold! If you’re a whole wheat bread hater (er, disliker?) like me, give these a try sometime. They might surprise you! :D
We had plenty of leftovers, so I think I’m going to fix myself another sandwich right now. :D
But before I go, I want someone to have this $25 gift certificate to B Johnson Jewelry!
Isn’t it just delightful? So pretty and summery. :) Someone I know should *definitely* have those earrings.
To be entered to win the $25 gift certificate to B Johnson Jewelry, leave a comment on this post- you can…
1. Leave a link to what you’d get! I’d love to see!
2. Tell me about your 4th of July plans- got any great recipes you’re looking forward to making? :)
3. Or you can just say whatever comes to your mind! ;)
One entry per person please! :) The winner will be chosen by his or her comment number, which will be picked by Random.org’s number generator. But hurry! The contest ends MONDAY night, June 29, at 10:00 pm CST.
Thanks so much for looking and GOOD LUCK!!! :)
Congrats to #53 Rachel E.! You won the $25 gift certificate to BJohnsonJewelry! Contact me to claim your prize! :)
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129 Comments
Love the 4th of July ideas…
and I love the “On the Beige Czech Melon” bracelet! So fun and unique!
I love these earrings.
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/213190.xml
We have a firework stand so we’ll be working during the fourth. It’s always a lot of fun!
Wow! Thanks for the recipes- I was looking for something special to make- think i’m going to try this!
I absolutely love this necklace:
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206344.xml
My 4th will be spent with family- going to one of the oldest parades in RI and then my dad makes some yummy food!
Mmmm, I love, love baked beans. I’m a huge fan of your delicious recipes and will definitely have to give this one a try. We’re going camping for 4th of July, with all 5 daughters ages 1-10, and I just found out there’s NO running water. Maybe that’s someone’s idea of fun, but I’m not really a “roughing it” camper. I like to camp with plumbing, especially with so many little girls to take care of. Dinner is just going to be roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the fire. Maybe I’ll make these beans to make this weekend fun! :)
I’m heading to a lake. A little dude that I watch sometimes is having his 1st birthday party. What a great way to celebrate.
Thanks for the info about cooking the bacon…love bacon, hate cooking it on the stove!
Going to a potluck for the 4th…and I will be taking pretzel salad. Nothing new, but very much loved by the family. The salty/sweet combination is a good one!
Thanks for all your good tips, fonts, and recipes!
Great recipe and great give away.
I’d like..http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206329.xml
For the 4th, I think we’ll just grill a few burgers, open a bottle of wine and sit on the porch to watch fireworks. Try to take a few photos.
If I won I would get this amazing bracelet:
http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206346.xml
I love how unique and different it is, plus I can wear it anytime.
For the 4th of July….neighborhood block party with tons of food and a huge water slide jumper that everyone pitched in to rent!! Fun in the sun in hot sunny southern california!
I am new to your site and love that I just happened to stumble upon it. I love your pictures and the way you share your love of all things family, food and scrapbooking. Who needs more? :-)
I am looking forward to making blueberry cobbler for the 4th with the blueberries that myself, my daughter, my mom and my neice picked together last weekend.
I think I love everything on the B Johnson jewelry website! How would a girl choose? Perhaps the shell earrings or some made with agate stone? If only I would have them for my trip to CT for the fourth! (Sorry no recipes – that’s up to the sisters in law!)
What kind of camera do you use now? You have wonderful pictures. I need a new camera bad. Maybe I will get one for my birthday in August… Thanks, Jessica
I love pulled pork sandwiches and need to try this recipe. It will be so yummy for the fourth!
Hi Amanda!
My children & I will probably go visit their daddy at the fire station since he’ll be working on the Fourth of July. Hopefully, my husband & the crew won’t get any serious alarms while we’re there!
I’d get the Swallow Love Bracelet…so pretty!
I’ve made several of your recipes. They all turn out wonderful! If I win I think I would choose this necklace: http://bjohnsonjewelry.com/store/item/206368.xml
PS. I love the pics of your dogs :) they are so cute!
Me and the rest of my family are on our way to eat leftovers! Looks so yummy! (So does the jewelry)
Going swimming & to watch fireworks for the 4th … making Paula Deen’s Orange Brownies & an 8 layer salad to take to the festivities!
I love the recipe ideas! I love to cook country-style pork ribs in the crock pot with some onion, s&p, and beef broth. After 6-8 hours, the pork is tender and if you stir in some bbq sauce (after draining the broth), the pork shreds perfectly to put on some whole wheat buns! Serve with cheesy potatoes, a spinach salad and you’re good to go!
I love BJohnson Jewelry… I bought my wedding party jewelry from Bettina and everyone raves about it! You can’t go wrong!
Love the jewelry & so would my sisters! Thanks for the awesome give-aways!
Hi! My husband and I love your recipes! And as soon as my son is old enough to eat “real food” I’m sure he’ll love them too! I plan on making these recipes for the 4th. My family is coming over and I’m sure they will enjoy it! Oh and about the gift certificate I am eyeing some beautiful ruby earrings.. :)
I am planning on a family picnic this 4th of July. Also, my neice & goddaughter, Lynnea, will be turning 1 this holiday weekend also, so we are celebrating her with the traditional chocolate pudding without a spoon! ;)
I made this Perfect Pulled Pork for dinner tonight and Oh. My. Stars.
That was the most delicious thing that has ever come out of my crock pot!!! It was perfectly seasoned (a little spicier than I usually make…my husband LOVED it!), perfectly moist and super tender. I cooked it for 10 hours…love that the crock pot doesn’t make the kitchen as hot as the oven. I’m so glad there are leftovers!
Hey Amanda! I just recently found your website & it is quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! I don’t know how you find time in a day to do all that you do, but I really enjoy all of your ideas & how well you explain everything. The fonts are adorable too by the way! Give kisses to the pups :)
~Lindsay
Hey Amanda! I just recently found your website and it is quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! I love all of your ideas and how creatively you put everything together. I just wanted to say thanks for all of the ideas! The fonts you have are adorable also! Give kisses to the pups :)
~Lindsay
Just found your blog today, it’s great. Quick question do you know how many people your pulled pork recipe serves? I was looking for a lunch idea for my daughter’s birthday and I thought it might be good. Thanks for posting, adorable site!
O.K. I think I’m addicted to your blog. I spent my son’s entire nap time reading through it! Love the post about yalls trip to Ruby Falls (or something with Laurel in it). I have the same camera you used on this trip and I have been complaining about it lately. It works great outside, but inside, not so much. It only takes the red eye out half the time. SO frustrating! I would love to take awesome pics of my little man and we are inside more than out. (I’m obviously NOT a photographer) Anyway, I grabbed a button and will be a loyal follower.
Just wanted you to know what my husband made your recipe for the ultimate baked beans four our 4th of July holiday family potluck event and everyone RAVED about them !!! That recipe is definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing.
Your Ultimate Beans were SO good! Just wanted to say thanks!!
Just found you. We will be having a 4th of July/7th birthday party on the 4th. I’m looking close at your 4th food ideas. The key word that hooked me is ‘easy’. We are in southern Colorado, so it will be hot. They allow fireworks to be sold a week before the 4th, so on that night it smells like a war zone. Happy 4th and God Bless America.