Earlier this week my friends at Cackalacky dropped off two jars of their new Cackalacky Sweet Cheerwine Sauce for me to try. For those longtime fans of my blog and show you know that Cackalacky is my favorite sauce ever. The original Cackalacky spice sauce is a “hard-to-describe” zesty and spicy sauce that seems to go on everything you can possibly imagine. And what I REALLY like about it is it was founded right down the road from me in Chapel Hill North Carolina, made with North Carolina sweet potatoes and run by the nicest people you will ever meet.
I have tried Cackalacky sauce on veggie burgers, brussel sprouts, salads, eggs, and even Cackalacky waffles!
Cackalacky has also joined me in the fight against hunger here in North Carolina. In a nutshell, I am a diehard, brand advocate for Cackalacky. So understandably the idea of a new Cacklacky sauce in their sauce lineup makes me both excited and apprehensive. This new sauce, after all, is not a solo effort. Instead, it is a mega partnership with another beloved North Carolina brand, Cheerwine! For those not familiar, Cheerwine is sort of a cherry-esque soda that is crazy addictive and certifiably southern.
My first thought about the idea of a sweet Cackalacky sauce was to put it on a burger. After all, a burger is perfect for any type of sauce. But when I really thought about it, something so epically North Carolina needed to be made with another NC favorite: pork barbecue. Since I moved down here to North Carolina in 2008 I have slowly perfected my slow cooker pulled pork. It was time to make a few Cheerwine modifications to my recipe and put this new Cackalacky Sweet Cheerwine Sauce to the test and review it on some pork!
Ingredients for “Legendary Carolina Pulled Pork”
This recipe is super simple. You need:
• 5 lbs. Boston Butt cut of pork
• King’s Hawaiian Sandwich Rolls
• Cheerwine
• Cackalacky Sweet Cheerwine Sauce
Step 1: Cut up the pork
In theory you can just take the pork out of the wrapper and dump it into your slow cooker with all the fat and the bone still in. I, on the other hand cut off a lot of the thick fat layer, remove the bone, and cut into smaller pieces (around 2-4 inches in thickness). I do this because while the slow cooking process will cause all the meat slide clean off the bone, fishing the bone out and filtering out the extra rendered down fat is too much work at the end. It is way easier to cut it off and do the time in the beginning when you can still see a noticeable color difference between fat and meat in the uncooked pieces.
Step 2: Add Cheerwine
I don’t drink soda anymore but I do normally add a can of Coca Cola onto the meat. In this case I decided to stick with the theme and add Cheerwine instead. I couldn’t find cans or bottles so I had to settle for a 2 litre. Add 2 cups of Cheerwine and pour it over the meat. The soda breaks down the fibers of the meat and adding the Cheerwine gave it a slightly cherry sweet taste! Check out the awesome sound adding that to the meat makes!
Step 3: Slow cook for 8 hours
There is no need to stir or even open the lid during that time. Just walk by, peer through the glass, and start salivating.
Step 4: Drain some of the fat and add Sweet Sauce
I don’t drain all of the fat. If you do the pork will become too dry. But if you don’t drain some of it, it will dilute the sauce. There’s no exact science here just do what feels right.
I added only about half the jar of sauce into the meat and stirred. The sauce is crazy red in color and the taste is so good. Not spicy at all but bold in flavor. Here is how it compares in color and consistency to the Cackalacky Spice Sauce.
Step 5: Pile meat high, add sweet sauce, stuff your face
This is the best part. Stack that sandwich roll high with pulled pork and douse with sweet sauce.
The King’s Hawaiian rolls are slightly sweet and really play off the saltiness of the pork. It’s worth the extra money and if not readily available, the extra searching for it.
This sandwich is super flavorful. You have the warm and salty pork with the crisp sweet taste of the sweet sauce.
Here’s another gratuitous shot of meat because it rules.
Verdict: Get this sauce
This sauce is currently only available online and trust me when I tell you, it is worth it. If you don’t like Cackalacky Spice Sauce because you think it is too spicy (my wife feels this way), you will love this sweet sauce. It is not overly sweet or cherry tasting. It has hints of a chinese sweet and sour sauce or a Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce. I can’t wait to try this on chicken and beef!
Here’s a link to order the brand new Cackalacky Sweet Cheerwine Sauce online at Cackalacky.com.
WIN a jar of the brand NEW Cackalacky Sweet Cheerwine Sauce!
I am beyond excited to be able to offer a giveaway of some of this amazing sauce! These things are currently only available online right now and I am giving away a jar to 3 winners! Tons of ways to enter and easy to win! Good luck.
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Gregory Ng
GOAL: Visit 100 National Parks as a family by 2020. Favorite Parks: Zion National Park, Mt Rainier National Park, Valley Forge National Historical Park
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