Pork Carnitas Filed under ( Mexican, Pork, Slow cooker )

White we were in TEXAS on the weekend with my Baylor friends, my friend Jennifer made such a yummy dinner. Jennifer was my roommate at Baylor. This GURRRL is a fantastic cook and she almost always cooks very healthy. We had these yummy carnitas with pinto beans, and yummy ears of corn she cooked on the grill. We had an assembly line to top the ears of corn with fresh lime juice, chili powder and cotija cheese. It was all amazing! I will also include a recipe I have for Mexican Pinto beans. They aren't especially low calorie but they are so yummy. My hubby and I were trying to copy some beans we enjoyed at different Mexican restaurants in Texas from when we lived there.

Pork Carnitas

1 sliced onion
2 Tbsp chopped chipotle in Adobo sauce or 2 fresh jalepenos
2-3 lb boned pork butt or shoulder
4 cloves garlic-slivered
Salt/pepper
Oil
Corn tortillas

Spray slow cooker with Pam. Place onion, chipotle peppers and ¼ cup water in slow cooker. Stir to combine. Using knife, make incisions in pork, insert garlic. Salt and pepper pork and brown in skillet on med high heat. Add to slow cooker and cook for 6 hours or til tender.
Shred pork with two forks, return to slow cooker and stir to combine with other ingredients. Serve on tortillas with cilantro, avocado, green olives or any other desired toppings. I loved these with white corn tortillas but you will have to double up and use two as they are much thinner! Enjoy!

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Some Great Pasta Filed under ( Pasta, Pork )

This is an amazing recipe - I have to say it is one of my husband's favorite. When I first moved to Omaha - one of my dearest friends was Mary. We have lost touch over the years after she moved. It makes me sad that I can't keep in better contact with friends as they move away. I just know this recipe will be one of your favorites.

Some Great Pasta

1 lb. Italian sausage (just mild or ½ hot and ½ mild)
2 Tbsp. Olive oil
2 Tbsp. fresh garlic, minced
2 tsp. dry oregano
2 tsp. fresh basil
1 ½ tsp salt
¾ tsp fresh pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
3 (14 ½ oz) cans diced tomatoes, may want to drain
2 cups cream
2 cups fresh mushrooms (optional, I didn’t use)
1 lb. penne pasta

Take the casing off of the sausage and using kitchen shears, cut in bite-size pieces. Cook in skillet until done and set aside. (My family tends to nibble on the meat as I cook it so I have doubled the meat before) I usually cook the meat ahead of time-makes final cook time go much faster. Cook pasta according to directions and drain. Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Saute 30 seconds to a minute. Add tomatoes and cream. Boil 5 minutes stirring often. Add sausage, mushrooms and pasta.

I then remove from heat and allow the mixture to "set up". This is just as yummy the next day!

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Amazing Sauce for Amazing Ribs (or any meat) Filed under ( chicken, grill, Pork, sauce )

I LOVE this sauce. I got this recipe from neighbors about 14 years when we lived in Katy, Texas. Janine and Scott moved in for a short time and we often grilled and hung out together. I am not a huge rib fan but I so love this sauce. I think this sauce would be amazing on any ribs or chicken, etc. Enjoy - and share with YOUR neighbors!

BBQ ribs

1 bottle Pickapeppa sauce (found near the Tobasco, ketchup, etc.)

1 cup honey

3/4 cup Heinz 57 sauce

2 racks of pork baby back ribs

Sliced onion

Put ribs in water with a sliced onion and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for one hour. Chill until ready to cook. Mix sauce and grill at a low temperature for about 20-30 minutes. Brush with more sauce as they cook.

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Sweet/Spicy Bacon Filed under ( appetizer, brunch, Pork )

I guess anything with bacon, maple syrup and brown sugar would be good. This is an amazing recipe. I think I say that a lot but I wouldn't put it on here if it wasn't "blog-worthy". I made it today for a New Year's Eve party. I tend to have recipes that don't have specific amounts. This is one of those recipes - could have more brown sugar or more pepper - just depends on your preference.

Sweet/Spicy Bacon

1 pound bacon
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 - 1 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 - 1 tsp black pepper
maple syrup

Line a cookie sheet with foil; Mix brown sugar and peppers together; place a wire rack of some type on top of lined cookie sheet and lay the bacon pieces all along this rack; Brush each piece of bacon with maple syrup and sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on top of the bacon. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes; Using a fork, turn each piece of bacon over and brush this side with maple syrup; sprinkle with the rest of the sugar/pepper mixture and bake for about 15 more minutes. The bacon will be crisp and brown and so yummy. I used my kitchen shears to cut each piece into bite size pieces.

* a pound of bacon seams like a lot but this tasty little bites disappear in a hurry so I usually double this recipe for a party

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