Slow-Cooker Pork Sandwiches

Barbecue is serious business in a lot of Southern families, and this is no exception.

Ingredients

For the roast:

• 2 medium sweet onions, such as Vidalia, quartered
• 4 teaspoons light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 4- to 6-pound Boston butt pork roast, bonein, trimmed of excess fat
• 6 hamburger rolls, split

For the Sauce:

• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• Dash of hot sauce, such as Tabasco
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Prepare the roast: Put the quartered onions in the bottom of a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Mix the brown sugar, smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons salt and a pinch of black pepper and rub it all over the pork roast. Add the roast to the slow cooker on top of the onions.
2. Make the sauce: Chop the onion and puree in a blender. You may need to add a drop of water to the blender to help the onions completely puree. Place the pureed onion in a 2-quart saucepan with 1/4 cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low. Cook, stirring constantly, until the water has almost evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the vinegar, tomato juice, 1/2 tablespoon black pepper, the garlic powder, cayenne and hot sauce and mix well. Increase the heat to medium high, return to a boil, then stir in the sugar. Remove from the heat.
3. Drizzle 1 cup sauce over the roast in the slow cooker. Continue to cook the remaining sauce over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, allowing it to reduce by half. Then remove the sauce from the heat, allow it to cool completely and refrigerate for later use.
4. Meanwhile, cook the roast in the slow cooker on low for 8 to 12 hours, checking after 8 hours for tenderness. Remove the meat and onions from the slow cooker. Discard the onions and finely shred the pork, using two forks. Reserve the juices from the slow cooker to add to the meat for desired juiciness. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve on buns with a little mustard and coleslaw.