Henry The 7-1/2th

[MushCreek]

We were supposed to dine like Henry The 8th last night, but my crown roast of pork had 'issues'. I'll cut to the chase- it was delicious, cooked just right, but....

First, the butcher evidently did not know how to make one properly. The bones were cut so short that there was nothing left sticking up to put paper frills on. Presentation= Fail.

For some unknown reason, it took forEVER to cook. This was a 7 lb. roast, and I set the UDS at 350. By all accounts, this should have been done (145) in 1-1/2 to 2 hours. After 3+ hours, one side was finally up to temp, so I pulled it off so we could eat. Timing= Fail.

The roast came apart when the string let go, and there was no center cavity to put the stuffing in. I think the tight center may have contributed to the long cook time. Again, Presentation=Fail.

Luckily, it was just 'us' for Christmas dinner- I would have been upset if I had a house full of hungry guests! Flavor and texture were outstanding, and I smoked the stuffing in a separate pan. We collected the drippings to make gravy- yummy, smokey gravy. G-withs included home-made bread, rutabagas, carrots, asparagus, and a nice pear relish that my neighbor makes. Taste= Success!

No pron- I won't drag the camera out for a broken, boneless crown roast, but it sure tasted good!

[Randbo]

At least it was delicious.Thank goodness for that!