Ark Valley News - In the kitchen

In the kitchen
By Lisa Strunk
Last Updated: February 12, 2015

Humiliation always better when it's someone else

After my last column, I thought there would never be any way to beat the naked lady in the bushes. Seriously, how can I even continue to write my column after that?

The past week didn't quite live up to week before. We did manage some excitement though. On Feb. 6, Chris and I went to Mosley Street Melodrama with friends Dan and Lisa Schmidt.

If you haven't been to Mosley Street Melodrama, you really need to go. I feel like I have to give a warning, it is PG13. It's always funny though. I'm shy, so I always hope for a seat in the upper level. They never come up there and bother you.

I knew we were in trouble when we got seated in the second row of tables up front. That's the trouble area. Lisa Schmidt has ended up on stage four times. I do need to mention that she has an incredible singing voice and was in drama in college. She says she doesn't like getting pulled on stage, but she does kind of belong there.

I can't sing. I'm borderline shy and I'm horrified at the thought of being humiliated in front of a large group of strangers. This is why I was in stagecraft class and not drama in high school.

The first half of the show is always the melodrama. The second half is the musical revue. That means the actors and actresses come out in the audience and sit on people's laps and sing. They mess with peoples' hair and sometimes pull people up to dance. I'm OK with all of that.

They also always make a couple of people come up on stage for a skit. Sometimes those skits require singing and dancing and they always require making a fool of yourself. I'm not OK with that.

I went to the restroom during the intermission and walked out after the musical revue started. When I got back to the table, Chris had switched chairs with me, which left me exposed on the aisle. I think someone saw him do this, because a few minutes later one of the actresses came and grabbed Chris' arm and told him he needed to come back stage.

He fought it, but I told him to shut up and go. He had it coming.

He had to be bachelor No. 2 on the Dating Game. One of the questions involved the bachelor's favorite dance. Bachelor No. 1, Rex, said his was the dance from "Dirty Dancing" and pulled Chris up and told him he would need his help. He than ran off stage and came running back onto the stage like Chris was going to have to catch him in mid-leap.

Chris said his favorite dance was the sprinkler, because it's the only dance he knows, and he proceeded to demonstrate. It was good.

He even told Tom Frye (the writer of the current melodrama, and a Mosley Street regular) that he would be available if they needed an extra cast member. He also woke up the next morning with several ways he could have improved his performance. Thankfully, the father-daughter dance meant we couldn't go back Saturday night so Chris could have a second chance at fame.

I've made Hawaiian pulled pork sliders twice recently. The kids love them. I've used the Campbell's slow cooker sauce, but next time I'm going to try to make it with an easy recipe.

Hawaiian Pulled Pork

• 3 lb. pork shoulder or butt roast

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for rub

• 20 oz. can pineapple rings, juice reserved

• 2 teaspoons liquid smoke

• 1 cup BBQ sauce

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. Take 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and rub on all sides of the roast; set roast in slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, mix together brown sugar, juice from can of pineapple rings, liquid smoke, and BBQ sauce. Pour of roast in slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours.

Using two forks, shred roast (it should literally fall apart). Scoop shredded pork onto individual rolls, top with a pineapple ring, and serve.

Lisa Strunk is co-owner of The Ark Valley News. Reach her at lisa@arkvalleynews.com.