Pasture-Raised Pork Shoulder, Picnic

Picnic shoulder, or pork shoulder, is a cut of pork that comes, as you might expect, from the shoulder area of the pig. Since the "shoulder" of a pig is a leg and pigs walk on all four legs, the picnic shoulder is a cut with muscles that get a lot of work. All that work of walking around gives the shoulder a lot of flavor; it also gives that cut what could be called a lot of texture. Without proper cooking, it can be tough, but the right cooking method will bring out its fabulous flavor in the most tender of ways.