April 16, 2020: We Should All Be Up Schitt's Creek

Stuck inside and starved for entertainment, I have been trading favorite Netflix binges even more than recipes. By now, I have identified which friends and family members have tastes most similar to mine, and I know to whom I should turn for recommendations on my go-to genres. Given all the seasons of "Shameless" and "Parks and Rec" I enjoyed watching with my son, I trusted him when he recommended "Schitt's Creek," but I wondered why I hadn't heard more about it.

If you haven't watched it, "Schitt's Creek" is about a ridiculously wealthy and pretentious family that ends up penniless and living in a small town named Schitt's Creek. The writing is crisp and witty and the actors' chemistry and comedic timing were evident from the first episode. I immediately loved it, but my son kept telling me "Just wait; it gets better." I found that hard to believe because I was already laughing so hard at every episode. 

Now that I've obsessively watched all six seasons, I understand a little more of why it took awhile for the show to take off and why my son thought it improved over time. As funny as the show is, in the beginning, the main characters weren't very likable. They hated their current living arrangements and were constantly trash-talking the small town and plotting how to return to their formerly privileged lives. Over time, however, they grew to love and appreciate Schitt's Creek and its quirky residents, and they grew as individuals, becoming more self-aware and challenging themselves in new roles. By the end, the family were closer than they had ever been, and each of the main characters had re-defined themselves and launched a new life and career totally unlike what they thought they wanted in the beginning. 

The four of us had a lot of fun trading favorite lines and scenes and impersonating the characters, but, in all seriousness, I think Schitt's Creek has become a metaphor for our current lives. None of us is very happy with our current situation: my kids want to be back in NYC and Philly, and my husband wants to get back to working in an actual office with actual people. If there is a silver lining to being sheltered-in-place, however, it is that we have been granted an opportunity and space and time to examine where we were pre-COVID and figure out where we might want to be in a post-corona world.

When our son's college shut down and he had to come home, he started exploring new workout routines to add to his already-devoted practice. As he challenged us to join him, he realized how much he enjoyed encouraging others in their physical fitness goals, and he decided to become certified as a personal trainer. Now, he is teaching live classes via Zoom and actually looking forward to each new shelter-in-place day. If you book a class with him (on instagram @reillyj0nes), I promise you will feel a bit better about hanging out inside all day.

Pre-corona, our daughter was working for a designer in Philly who had to furlough all the employees of her small business. With the "luxury" of found corona-time, our daughter has now applied and been accepted to graduate school in fashion design, and she and her boyfriend have created a website (bunnycult.church) to showcase all the unique pieces they have been crafting. Their art brings me joy every day.

As for my husband and me, he has been exploring his interest in mid-century modern architecture while planning our next home, and I of course have renewed my interest in cooking-- and finally started this blog. To say I am happy to be sheltering-in-place is certainly an overstatement, but I appreciate that we have been provided the opportunity to explore our creative sides and consider something new for ourselves post-corona. Slowing down has been good for each of us.

Speaking of slow, I lugged out my old slow cooker this week. On my most recent grocery store trip, I decided to freewheel it and shop without a list. This new approach was WAY outside my comfort zone, and I ended up with a lot of random items, including an almost 9-pound-bone-in pork shoulder that I had no idea how to cook. After doing a little research, I came up with a crowd favorite and an incredibly easy feast.

Slow Cooker Pork Shoulder 

8 pound pork shoulder (bone-in or boneless)

2 tablespoons cumin

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

2 tablespoons kosher salt (don't be scared)

1 navel orange

2 limes

Trim as much fat as possible off of meat.

Combine the spices and salt, massage all over meat and place in slow cooker. (Mine was a perfect fit for a 7-quart cooker.)

Squeeze orange and limes over the top.

Cook on high for 8 hours, low for 10 hours.  KEEP LID ON.

Once done, take two forks and shred meat. It should fall off the bone and shred easily; if not, cook it a little longer.

Remove bone and strain meat.

This makes a TON (obviously). The first night, we made tacos, adding slaw (see recipe in April 2 post), queso fresco, avocado, and cilantro, and drizzling with extra slaw dressing. 

Tonight, we are going to make Cuban-style sandwiches with the leftovers (and we will still have leftovers after that). To make the sandwiches, heat a large skillet over high heat. Then add the pork, pressing down, and frying until the meat gets crusty on one side.  Spread some crusty bread (like ciabatta) with mustard and layer on the pork with slices of deli ham, Swiss cheese, and pickles, then heat in a panini press if you have one (or just heat in a skillet, pressing down on the bread).  

If you haven't watched Schitt's Creek, I highly recommend (and urge you to stick with it as it DOES get better). Although I already miss watching the oddball characters create a new life out of a bad situation, I am forever grateful that we have been able to channel a little of the Schitt's Creek spirit.

Now, I am actively soliciting a new Netflix binge. Preferable something funny. Suggestions?