Carnitas

So tonight we had a inaugural with pork tacos (carnitas). We have had militias and these were wonderful, tonight we took it to a new level.

2.5 pounds of pork shoulder, cubed, and salted evenly with 2 teaspoons.
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves of garlic
1/4 Serrano pepper, diced
1 small lime, juiced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons olive oil

Using a dutch oven heat oil to medium-high heat, add pork. Cook till browned on both sides, or 10 minutes. Sometimes the fat is too much for it to brown. Cut the onions while waiting, add onions, let them sweat down for 5 minutes and add garlic, let this saute for another 4 minutes and add the rest of the ingredients, except the pepper. Bring to a boil, then turn down heat to simmer partially covered for an 1 hour, add the Serrano and cook for another 30 minutes.. The meat should be tender and lovely. Heat whatever vessel you want flour, corn, or hard shell and add the pork, cheese avocado and a squeeze of lime on top. Chop some parsley or cilantro to garnish. You don't need beans or any other condiment, this is perfect the way it is.

Pork Roast

Pork roast, french cut.... 425 for 30 minutes, this was a 3 pound roast, 275 for a hour or so till the internal temp is 160 degrees. Pan gravy made from chicken drippings from last nights baked whole chicken. Seasoned with Rosemary, salt, pepper, garlic and a little sage.

Lasagna Soup

My wife posted a recipe to me today called lasagna soup, I liked the concept so I went to work tonight on this.

1 lb turkey, Italian seasoning (bought by mistake, but oh well)
A box of your favorite noodles
3/4 box of chicken broth
2 cans whole peeled tomatoes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon each of basil, parsley, thyme, oregano, and onion dried
1 bay leaf
small package of mushrooms, sliced then sauteed
1 can of olives chopped
Sliced mozzarella, I like the kind that is in the ball, just seems more elegant without doing much smile emoticon

Put the cans in a large deep sauce pan, crush them to your liking, I like the texture. This is so easy, I threw this together in like 30 minutes. After that throw the rest of the ingredients in except the turkey, this needs to be cooked before putting it in the sauce, same as the mushrooms, saute them then add. let that all get nice and delicious, simmering for at least an hour, don't hard boil, or all the soup will evaporate. Stick noodles in a pan and cook, add to the bowls, add the soup, top with cheese, you can melt the cheese in the oven for a spell if you want, I did....get some crusty bread to dip and enjoy!

Stew

2 tablespoons sunflower oil
1 Bay Leaf, whole
2 garlic cloves, smashed
1 fresh sprigs of Rosemary, whole
( add all ingredients to a dutch oven on medium high heat)
saute these ingredients for 4-5 minutes, take out before they burn)
This flavors the oil!
Take 2 lbs of roast beef, salt on both sides of the cut, cut into 1 inch think cubs, dust with flour and put in the flavored oil in sections, don't crowd the pan. Get both sides brown and caramelized. Take out each section as they get done. Cut one onion in slices, saute for 5-6 minutes and add 1/2 cup of red wine, one you drink, not one that is left over. Cook this down add 2 more cloves of garlic, diced, 1 table spoon of rosemary, chopped, 1/2 tablespoon of thyme and oregano. Let boil for 10 minutes, add cooked meat and 1 box of your favorite stock. This will cook for at least 2 hours on medium low heat. In the last hour add carrots, I like my veggies chunky so my cuts were pretty big, and then your favorite potato, I cut russets in half, you can most certainly do baby reds, whites and fingerlings, but i would leave the whole. Cook for another hour, checking the meat for tenderness, roast is at its best when it is fall apart tender.!! Add some flour and water mixture if you want it a little thicker! Salt and pepper to taste..