Pulled Pork Paninis with Caramelized Onions

• 3 pounds Boneless Pork Shoulder (pork Butt)
• 3/4 cups Dry Spice Rub, Recipe Follows
• 2 Large Onions, Sliced, Divided Use
• 4 cloves Garlic, Peeled And Smashed
• 1/4 cups Water (or Apple Juice)
• 1/2 teaspoons Liquid Smoke
• 1- 1/2 cup BBQ Sauce, Recipe Follows
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
• 12 slices Sourdough Bread (I Like Whole Wheat Sourdough)
• 6 slices Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Butter Or Olive Oil
• 1/4 cups Paprika
• 3 Tablespoons Packed Brown Sugar Or Muscovado
• 2 Tablespoons Kosher Salt
• 1- 1/2 Tablespoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Chile Powder
• 2 teaspoons Dry Mustard
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 cup Ketchup
• 1/4 cups Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Packed Brown Sugar Or Muscovado
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Molasses
• 1 Tablespoon Sweet Paprika
• 2 cloves Garlic, Smashed & Finely Diced
• 2 teaspoons Dry Yellow Mustard
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1/2 teaspoons Seasoning Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
• 1/4 teaspoons Cayenne (optional)
• 18 teaspoons Liquid Smoke (optional)

1. FOR THE PORK Coat the pork on all sides with the dry rub and massage the rub into the meat.
2. Wrap the meat tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour or overnight.
3. Lay one of the sliced onion and the smashed garlic cloves on the bottom of a large slow cooker.
4. Mix apple juice (or water) with liquid smoke and add it into the slow cooker.
5. Unwrap the pork.
6. Place pork on top of everything.
7. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or until pork is very tender.
8. Transfer pork to bowl or baking sheet with rimmed edges.
9. Discard the cooking liquid and onions.
10. Remove any fat from the pork.
11. Using two forks, shred pork and return it to the slow cooker.
12. Pour BBQ sauce over the top and mix thoroughly.
13. Cook on high for 30 minutes.
14. Add any additional seasonings to adjust to your taste.
15. While pork is cooking for the final 30 minutes, caramelize the remaining sliced onions.
16. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat, and add sliced onions.
17. Cook until onions are brown and caramelized, about 25-30 minutes.
18. FOR THE PANINIS When ready to make your paninis, butter the outside of each piece of bread (or brush with olive oil).
19. Place 6 pieces, butter side down on your work surface and pile pork, some caramelized onions, and a slice (or two!)
20. of sharp cheddar cheese onto those slices.
21. Top with another slice of bread (butter side up).
22. Heat your panini maker*.
23. Once hot, add your paninis.
24. Grill them until brown and toasty...serve hot!
25. *(Note: I used a panini maker, but you could also do them like you do grilled cheese using a skillet or you could use a George Foreman).
26. FOR THE DRY RUB Mix together all of the dry rub ingredients in a medium bowl.
27. (If desired, you could also use the chopper attachment of an immersion blender to blend everything together).
28. Store in an airtight container up to three months.
29. (Note: adjust the types and amounts of seasoning to your liking or to what you have on hand.
30. Just dont leave out the paprika, sugar, salt, or pepper.
31. (This might seem like a lot of intense flavors, but they will mellow a lot in the cooking process).
32. FOR THE BBQ SAUCE Mix together all of the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl.
33. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
34. (If using the BBQ sauce outside of this recipe, youll want to simmer it on the stove for 10-15 minutes, but here you dont need to because it will cook in the slow cooker).

pork, dry spice rub, onions, garlic, water, liquid smoke, bbq sauce, olive oil, bread, cheddar cheese, butter, paprika, brown sugar, kosher salt, ground black pepper, chile powder, dry mustard, cayenne, garlic, onion powder, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, worcestershire sauce, molasses, sweet paprika, garlic, yellow mustard, kosher salt, salt, freshly ground black pepper, cayenne, liquid smoke

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/pulled-pork-paninis-with-caramelized-onions/ (may not work)