Crock Pot Pulled Pork - Two Versions

Pulled Pork is one of my favorite dishes to prepare for a crowd.  A pork shoulder is a very affordable cut of meat, and when slow cooked all day in the crock pot with a few seasonings - it is a crowd pleaser!
I make it two different ways.  Both are delicious.

Apple Seasoned Pulled Pork

1.  Sear pork shoulder on all sides in a skillet before transferring the meat to the crock pot.
2.  In the same pan, saute a large sliced onion until it is golden brown and nicely caramelized.  Pour caramelized onion over the browned shoulder in the crock pot.
3.  Add 1 sliced apple OR 1/2 cup applesauce OR 1/2 cup apple juice (any of these work well)
4.  Generously sprinkle the pork with thyme, salt and pepper.  Add a light sprinkling of rosemary leaves and oregano leaves.  Add one or two bay leaves.  Cover and cook all day. 
Serve with roasted potatoes and a green vegetable or in summer, serve with a buffet of cold salads and crusty bread.

Mexican Pulled Pork

1.  Sear pork shoulder on all sides in a skillet before transferring the meat to the crock pot.
2.  In the same pan, saute a large sliced onion until it is golden brown and nicely caramelized.  Pour caramelized onion over the browned shoulder in the crock pot.
3.  Squeeze the juice of 2 large limes over the pork and onion mixture.
4.  Stab holes in the pork with a sharp knife and insert several cloves of garlic (according to your taste).
5.  Cover and cook all day, but near the end of the cooking process, add a generous sprinkling of cumin and thyme - according to taste. 
Serve with tortillas and taco toppings for a Mexican style dinner.