Are you ready for the weekend? I have a real bad case of the Tuesdays and need something delicious to look forward to get me over to the weekend. Delicious slow roasted pork tenderloins with caramelized onions, spices, that are fall apart tender are the perfect cure for a bad case of the Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays or even the Thursdays.

I serve my my make ahead slow roasted pork tortillas with homemade gluten-free barbecue sauce, colorful cabbage slaw in a tortilla (flour tortilla shown here but I also used gluten free soft and hard corn tortillas shells but teenagers inhaled those tasty creations before I had a chance to catch that on photo) and garnished with chopped cilantro. Now just add some friends, margaritas and fiesta music and we are ready for a fun gathering.

Spring is the time of the year when you actually might see your neighbors again after being snowed in for the last 8 months. Here in Asia, we are no longer threatened by typhoons and the rain seems to be subsiding. It is spring clean up time and people are in their yards doing that whole home improvement thing, working on their plants and gardening or taking their dogs or kids out for a walk. A great opportunity to reconnect with neighbors and friends after a long winter hibernation and host a super easy gathering.

I love this slow roasted pork tortillas dish as you can make everything in advance and enjoy your guests. As everything is done in advance, all you have to make at the last-minute are the mojitos, margaritas, or maybe a tropical Shirley temple for the kids. However, my favorite reason is that these slow roasted pork tortillas are finger licking good and have bright and beautiful colors.  I actually think the flavors are even better the next day after the flavors have mingled.

I know many of you might panic when you take a look at the length of the ingredient list. Please don't panic as this dish is really simple. Please note that this recipe is for a full and complete meal including the pull apart pork, cabbage slaw and BBQ sauce and all the garnishes. In addition I have to make everything from scratch, even the ketchup, as I can't find a lot of gluten-free products in Hong Kong.

You can easily adapt the recipe to accommodate food allergies or dietary requirements. For example I substituted gluten-free chicken broth for the beer. I make my BBQ sauce diabetic friendly and gluten-free and the other people don't even notice or care. I leave everything separately so that people can decide what they want on their tortilla. I do not even mix in the BBQ sauce into the pork this way maybe guests do not want make a tortilla but instead make a beautiful coleslaw salad with pull apart pork for a great low carb meal. I have gluten-free corn wraps, flour tortillas and even hard tacos for the teenagers.

Making your own plates keeps the mood light, fun and easy to adapt for any dietary need. Last minute announcement that there is a vegetarian in the group?  No worries, just heat up some black beans with some tex mex spices and you're in business. I like to bring everything out in little bowls into the middle of the table and let everyone make their own tortilla and just have fun.

I think having a theme for a gathering always sets the stage for a perfect evening. Todays theme is Tex mex and all the fun that comes to your mind when you imagine the flavors and festivities of this cuisine. I am not one of those overly fussy hosts that have the perfectly pressed linen napkins, silver spoons and fine China plates (actually I do not even own any of these things)  As a matter of fact, the more casual the better, especially when hosting guests for the first time.

I want my guests to feel comfortable, like family. After all they are not coming to a restaurant, they are coming to my home. If we wanted fine linen napkins and butlers waiting on you hand and foot then go to that 3 star Michelin restaurant. I want my guests to feel happy, relaxed, and enjoy some delicious easy meals together. I think some of the worst experience I have had when I have gone to other homes for a gathering is that I don't see the cook or hostess almost all evening as he/ she is trapped in the kitchen and won't allow me to at least lend them a hand.

While the overwhelmed host is buzzing to the kitchen, we try to socialize with younger children and very shy husband who has never met us before. There are periods of long uncomfortable pauses in the conversation. The kids whom I have never met before start getting antsy so I head off to find some board games and play legos with the kids while the 2 strangers, the husbands who have never met each other, drink lots of wine in hope that this uncomfortable situation will pass soon.

I always try to make dishes that can be made ahead or at least some of them. However on some special occasions, depending on my guests, I might decide to serve Asian food, last-minute Italian dishes or any type of menu in which I need to make several dishes that need to be prepared at the last-minute. My motto is, "If I have to spend the time in the kitchen preparing last-minute dishes, so do all my guests." Oh my word, do we have fun!

I chop everything, prepare all the ingredients before their arrival. I make sure they have a drink in hand, apron on, and I put them right to work in Bam's Kitchen. I also have some little stools in my kitchen if they just want to chat, watch and of course catch a few photos for Bam's Kitchen. Little did my guests know they were going to be cooking their own meal, with me guiding them along the way. This is a great way to build friendships.

I think my guests are really proud of their creations that we all sit down together to eat. I have had total strangers cook their own meal and then take several photos before helping me bring it out to the main table. (wink wink... I wonder where they learned this?) Cooking should be fun and the host should feel comfortable cooking in front of others while socializing for this method to work. If not, stick to plan A and make something like my slow roasted pork tortillas or any main dish that you can prepare in advance of your guests arrival and enjoy your gathering.