Cooking Tips From Joshua Tree: Sous Vide Boneless Pork Butt Roast

If you’ve spent any time browsing the meat section at Walmart here in Yucca Valley, you’ve seen it — the Smithfield All-Natural Boneless Pork Butt Roast, already wrapped in netting and just waiting to be turned into something comforting.

When I cook this cut sous vide, I usually plan it for the next day’s dinner. It needs time to work its magic, but the payoff is worth every hour.

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Sous Vide Settings (The Most Important Part)

159°F for 24 hours

This temp/time combo creates a roast that is tender, sliceable, and incredibly moist. Sous vide locks everything in, so you don’t have to worry about dryness.

I turned mine into Chashu Pork — traditionally made with pork belly, but pork butt gives you a leaner, still flavorful alternative.

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Chashu-Style Braising Liquid

Add these to a small pot:

• 1 cup soy sauce

• 1/2 cup Mirin

• 1/4 cup Sweet Soy

• 1/4 cup Xiao Xing wine (or dry sherry)

• 4 cloves garlic, smashed

• 2 tbsp ginger, smashed

• White parts of 1 bunch green onion

• ~1 cup water to bring it all together

Simmer until the liquid thickens slightly.

Add the liquid to the sous vide bag with the pork, seal, and cook for 24 hours at 159°F.

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Finishing the Roast

When it’s done:

1. Open the bag and strain the liquid into a small pan.

2. Reduce it by half until it becomes a deep, glossy sauce.

3. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Optional: add 1 tsp sesame oil for extra richness.

As for the roast itself — it will already be deeply browned from the braise, so searing is optional.
If you choose to sear, pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels first.

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Serving Suggestions

Slice the pork and serve it with:

• Mashed potatoes, or

• Steamed rice with the reduced gravy poured over the top.

Simple, comforting, and perfect after a long day exploring Joshua Tree.

Enjoy.

(I will update with a proper photo and maybe even video) I forgot.....

Want to save money while visiting Joshua Tree this season?

 

If you're staying at a short-term rental, bring your slow cooker.
Yes, there are plenty of amazing places to eat around here, but when you’re traveling with family, eating out can add up fast — especially during busy season.

If you're spending your days hiking, exploring the park, and trying to fit in as much as you can, the last thing you want is to spend your evenings cooking.
So here are 3 economical slow-cooker meals you can make with ingredients bought right here in town.

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🍚 Teriyaki Meatballs (Walmart – Under $20)

Ingredients:

• 1 bag Marketside Home Style Meatballs (Walmart Yucca Valley)

• 1 bottle Soy Vay “Veri Veri” Island Teriyaki Sauce

• 1 bag Great Value Fine Green Beans

• 1 box Success Boil-in-Bag Jasmine Rice

How to make it:
Pop the frozen meatballs into your slow cooker.
Add half the bottle of teriyaki sauce + 1 cup of water.
Cover it, go hike your trail, and lunch will be ready when you get back.

Heat the rice according to the instructions and microwave the green beans.

Feeds a family of 4 for under $20.

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🌮 Rotisserie Chicken Quesadillas (Stater Bros – Around $25)

Ingredients:

• 1 Cleo & Leo Rotisserie Chicken (Stater Bros, Yucca Valley)

• Mission Super Soft Tortilla Wraps – Carb Balance Spinach Herb

• Stater Bros Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese (32 oz)

• Herdez Mild Salsa Verde

How to make it:
Shred the rotisserie chicken.
Mix it with the shredded cheese.
Divide the mixture across 8 tortillas.
Toast in a pan until the cheese melts.

Serve with salsa verde for dipping.

Quick, easy, and feeds 4 for around $25.

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If you want more easy road-trip meals for your Joshua Tree stay, let me know — I’ll keep adding to this series.

The Mysterious Hum in Joshua Tree — Am I the Only One Hearing This?

 I wanted to get this in writing in case anyone else out there has experienced something similar. I’m writing this from Joshua Tree, California — so whether you’ve heard this hum here in the high desert or anywhere else in the world, just know you’re not alone. Someone in this little desert town is hearing it too.

For the past eight years, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve turned to my wife and asked, “Did you hear that sound?”
And without fail, she’ll deadpan back:
“For the umpteenth time… that’s the fridge compressor, right?”

Every time I doubt myself.
Every time I shrug it off.
“Yeah, you’re probably right… must’ve been the fridge.”

But this week felt different.

I was doomscrolling Facebook when someone on our local town page mentioned the hum. That stopped me cold. I commented that I always assumed it was my fridge. He dismissed it immediately and told me:

“Next time you hear it, flip your breaker. You’ll know real quick.”

Fair enough.
I haven’t had the chance to test his theory yet, but when I do, I’ll update this post.

Back to the hum itself:
It’s a deep, machine-like vibration.
Not small machinery — this sounds like something big, distant, and constant. Along with the sound, there’s a physical sensation, like a soft wave of pressure rolling through the room. Not violent, not rattling… more like a heavy soundwave you can feel in your chest. It gives me a mild headache and a touch of nausea when it lingers.

My wife hears something too, but she sticks to her theory that it’s the fridge doing what fridges do. And maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m overthinking it. But I can’t ignore that other people in town are posting about this now.

So I’m putting it out there.
If you’ve heard something similar — here or anywhere else — drop a comment. I’d love to know.

Joshua Tree has long been rumored to be full of vortices. Sedona, Arizona has its share too, and people there report strange sounds, pressures, and sensations they can’t explain. Maybe there’s a connection. Maybe not.

All I know is… the hum is real enough that I’m finally writing about it.

Updates coming when I run the breaker test.