Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps are the perfect blend of rich, meaty pork and crisp crunchy vegetables. And, yes, you can make tacos, too. I like to serve both – you get a little taco and a little wrap. It makes moderation feel oh-so-good.😋
This issue also shares
- The Best Life Living Tip: Health Benefits of Spicy Foods🌶️
- The Self-Care Technique: Catch a Whiff and Change Your Mood☺️
- Ideas and Inspiration: The Art of Eating — and Storytelling with M.F.K. Fisher📝
Read on for more, including these Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps, which are inexpensive and great for a crowd or get-together. The carnitas freezes great so you can store leftovers for later or even recycle it into Southern-style pulled pork barbecue with a splash of sauce. It’s a super easy recipe and comes in at 226 calories per wrap. I know you and your family will love it.
Best Life Living Tip
Heat things up! Add some pickled jalapenos or splash some hot sauce on those Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps!
Did you know spicy foods have health benefits? According to Haley Robinson, a clinical dietitian at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, shares six ways capsaicin can improve your health.
1. Weight loss. Spicy foods have been shown to help with weight loss.
“Capsaicin helps increase your core temperature, increase metabolism and helps burn calories faster,” Robinson says. “Research has shown that it could increase your metabolism by up to 5 percent.”
2. Depression. “Capsaicin has been shown to work as an endorphin,” Robinson says. “The body produces endorphins, like serotonin, in response to the heat, which it mistakes for pain. This makes you feel better and decreases the risk for depression or stress.”
3. Cancer Prevention: Capsaicin works as an antioxidant, protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals that can cause cancer.
4. Heart Disease. Chili peppers reduce the damaging effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is your bad cholesterol. And capsaicin helps fight inflammation, which has been proven as a risk factor for heart issues.
5. Digestion. An increase in digestive fluids can help speed up the digestion process and relieve diarrhea.
6. Pain. Topical creams with capsaicin work as an analgesic and can be used to help with arthritic or neuropathic pain.
Self-Care Technique
Did you know that the brain quickly processes scents and connects them to memories or feelings? Scents can impact mood by triggering the brain’s limbic system, which controls emotions, memory, and feelings.
Need an all-natural pick-me-up? Scents that can improve your mood include:
- Lavender: Lavender has been used for aromatherapy for decades and is known for its calming and soothing properties. (I love the Whole Foods 365 brand for both aroma and value and use it every single night before bed.)
- Citrus: The scent of lemon, orange, and grapefruit can reduce stress, increase alertness, and uplift your mood.
- Peppermint: Peppermint is a powerful mood and energy booster. (I keep a roll-on in my purse!)
Want to know more about aromatherapy? Check out this from the Mayo Clinic.
Ideas and Inspiration
M.F.K. Fisher was an American writer whose compelling style, wit, and interest in gastronomy made her one of the major American writers on the subject of food. In her 15 celebrated books, Fisher created a new genre: the food essay. Seeing food as a cultural metaphor, she proved to be both an insightful philosopher of food and a writer of fine prose. Her basic argument was that good food can nourish our minds and souls as much as our bodies
The M.F.K. Fisher Symposium for Women in Food & Storytelling taking place in Nashville, April 4 and 5. Limited to just 200 attendees, it will be a one-of-a-kind gathering to celebrate the achievements of women in food media while fostering new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Scholarships are available:
– The Toni Tipton-Martin Scholarship, with support from the Julia Child Foundation.
– The Joan Reardon Scholarship, sponsored by Les Dames Chicago
– Susan Kornblatt Idell Sonoma Chapter Scholarship for Bay Area Women, sponsored by Les Dames Sonoma
I am honored to be part of this amazing line-up. Hope to see you there!
Good and Good for You™Living Spotlight
The Good and Good for You™ Living Shop celebrates the power of positive behavior. The response has been fantastic! WOW!
The collections include Nourish, Mark Your Mark, Shine Your Light, and Wear It. From organic cotton tote bags to eco-friendly all-natural candles to gratitude journals made in the USA, you can choose from a selection of cheerful, uplifting items that celebrate whole-body health and wellness.
A friend got a promotion and I sent him one as a congratulations. That’s my vision. I see the Good and Good for You™ Living Shop as a way to send a hug or a high five through the mail, just a little something to say YAY YOU! And, sometimes we need that for ourselves, too. 😉
I am one of my best customers with the candles. They smell amazing!
- 100% soy wax for a clean, eco-friendly burn
- Made from all-natural and sustainable essential oils
- Vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and petroleum-free
- Hand Poured in the USA
As a big thank you, this week we’re offering a 15% discount coupon on all products with the code YAYYOU!
Make it Count
You are going to love these Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps. Mix up the corn tortillas with the lettuce leaves for a balanced approach to wraps and tacos. it’s the best of both worlds. These come in at 226 calories per lettuce wrap and roughly 6 WW points per wrap.
Try this recipe for Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Onions for another great cold-weather comfort food dish.
Thanks so much for reading. Please give me a follow on IG @virginiawillis for more best life tips, self-care techniques, ideas and inspiration, and healthy recipes.
If you’re doing what’s Good and Good for You™ more often than not, you’re on the right track. 🙌🏻 You can do it!
Bon Appétit Y’all!
Virginia Willis
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless pork shoulder excess fat removed
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt plus more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 head Romaine lettuce for serving
- 1 cup thinly sliced cabbage for serving
- 3 radishes sliced, for serving
- 1 jalapeno sliced for serving
- 1 mandarins cut, for serving
Instructions
- Season the pork with salt and pepper. Sear the pork. If using a traditional slow cooker without sauté capabilities, heat a large dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork, fatty side down, and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn and sear in the rendered fat on all sides, about 8 minutes total. If using a pressure cooker with sauté capabilities, sear the pork in the pressure cooker using the same technique before changing the program setting to slow cook.
- Combine the coriander, cayenne and orange juice in the insert of a medium (6-quart) slow cooker. Add the seared pork and turn to coat.
- Cover and cook, until the pork is tender and falling apart, 5 to 6 hours on high or 8 to 10 hours on low. Shred the meat and stir the pulled pork in the cooking liquid. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
- To serve, divide the pulled pork mixture between romaine lettuce leaves. Top with radishes, cabbage, jalapeno, and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with fresh mandarins cut on the side.
Nutrition
