Caramelized Carnitas

Caramelized Carnitas

1&1/2 lbs pork shoulder
salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp molasses
1/3 c water
green onions for garnish
limes

Cut pork into 1 inch cubes. Place pork in saute pan and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat on all sides, then add the garlic, brown sugar, molasses, and water. Stir once, reduce heat and let simmer (on medium) for about 35min. (This is the perfect time to make tortillas and black beans to go with it!) After about 35min, then sauce will be thick and will start sticking to the meat, caramelizing it. Serve on warm tortillas with a squeeze of lime juice and cheese.

Homemade Tortillas

Homemade Tortillas (Our Best Bites)

2 1/2 c. flour

1 c. very hot water

1 tsp. Kosher salt

1/4 c. shortening

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in the shortening until it looks like little crumbs. Add the hot water (put tap water in the microwave for 30-45 sec) a little at a time until dough forms. Roll into balls (about 8-10). Then on a slightly floured surface roll them out from the middle to form circles. (notice mine aren't circles....this is the part I let the kids help with. They roll their own and I always make sure to ask them if they make good tacos...they always say "yes!") Place on a hot griddle to cook. Look for big bubbles. When they appear, flip it over and cook other side for 30-45 sec. Store wrapped in tin foil, in a tortilla warmer, or just stacked up while warm. They are really yummy!

Brazilian Stroganoff

Brazilian Stroganoff

1&1/2 lbs filet mignon (I used stew meat)

1/2 onion, chopped

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp mustard

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

3 Tbsp Ketchup

1 can creme de leite (creme media)

Saute beef and onion in butter. Add mustard, ketchup and worchestershire sauce, then put in the crock pot for 2-3 hours on high. The last 20min of cooking, add the can of cream. Serve over rice with potato chip sticks on top.

The cream can be found in the mexican aisle of the grocery aisle. It's in a blue can. If you can't find it, then you can use heavy cream.

Pao de Queijo

Pao de Queijo

2 c tapioca flour

1/2 Tbsp salt

1 c milk

1/2 c oil

1 egg

2 c crumbled queso panela

1/4 c grated parmesean cheese

Bring milk and oil to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Add egg and mix well. Then add the cheese. Roll into balls (2" or whatever size you like) and bake at 350 for 20min or so. This will make a whole cookie sheet full of pao de queijo this size. If you double the batch, add 1 egg, mix well, then add some cheese and mix well, then add the other egg mix well, then the last bit of cheese. Don't know why, it just works better.

You can find tapioca flour in the bulk bins at Winco. And the cheese is the Mexican cheese found by the cream cheese at most grocery stores.

Chicken Croquettes

Chicken Croquettes (Susan Hogan)

1/4 c celery, chopped

1 can mushrooms, drained and chopped

1/4 c onion, chopped

2 Tbsp butter .....3/4 c grateed cheddar cheese

4 Tbsp flour .......1/2 c crushed corn flakes

1/4 tsp pepper....... 1 & 1/2 c cooked rice ..... 1/3 cup sour cream

1 c milk ..... 1 & 1/2 c cooked chicken ..... 1 can cream of chicken soup

4 chicken boulion cubes

Saute celery, onion and mushrooms in butter until tender. Blend in flour and poultry seasoning (to taste, about 1-1&1/2 tsp) and pepper. Add milk and boulion cubes, stir until thickened. Cool.

In large bowl combine rice, chicken and cheese with cooled sauce. Using about 1/3 c of mixture, form a ball (croquette) and roll into crushed corn flakes. (I use crushed up Stove Top for extra flavoring).

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 30min. While it is cooking combine cream of chicken soup with sour cream and poultry seasoning to taste. Heat til warm. Use as a dipping sauce for the crouettes. Makes about 10 croquettes.

French Toast

FRENCH TOAST

2-3 bananas

3/4 c milk or soy milk

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (opt)

1 tsp vanilla

Blend all ingredients together in blender. Use this as you would use the egg mixture on regular french toast and cook on a hot griddle. I halved the recipe and still got 10 pieces of toast.

Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP WAFFLES

1 2/3 C water, milk, or soy milk

6 Tbsp oil

2 Tbsp water

1 c mashed bananas (about 2)

2 c flour

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c chocolate chips

Preheat waffle iron. Whisk together all liquid ingredients in a small bowl. (Water, oil, bananas) In a medium bowl combine the dry ingredients. When mixed, add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and stir til just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cook til light brown. Eat with just butter or butter and syrup.

Chewy Granola Bars

CHEWY GRANOLA BARS

2 1/2c rice crispies

2 c oatmeal

1/2 c craisins

1/2 c nuts of choice

1/4 c sunflower seeds

1/4-1/2 c chocolate chips

1 c brown sugar

1 c peanut butter

1 c karo syrup (or 1/2 c agave nectar+1/2c karo)

In a large bowl mix rice crispies, oatmeal, craisins, nuts, and sunflower seeds. (Wait to add the chocolate chips because they will just melt) In a small saucepan place brown sugar and karo (or karo and agave nectar). Bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, remove from heat and add the peanut butter. Once incorporated, pour over top When all oatmeal is covered add the chocolate chips and stir. Spray a cookie tray with PAM and press the mixture into the pan. It should cover about 3/4 of the pan. Press down hard. Wait til they are cool, then cut into bars.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

(recipe to follow shortly)

Ghost Pancakes

Ghost Pancakes

1c flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

1 c Milk, Soy milk, or water

1 & 1/2 Tbsp oil

1 tsp vanilla

m&m's or chocolate chips for the eyes

Wisk dry ingredients together in big bowl. In seperate bowl mix all wet ingredients, then add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Cook on hot griddle. Make design of a ghost, and when cooking on one side, add the face with m&m's or chocolate chips, then flip. My kids ate these with just butter. Isabel had me make a bat too!

Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins

Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins

1 & 1/4 c flour

1 c quick oats

1/2 c chocolate chips

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 c buttermilk

1/2 c honey

1/4 c oil

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 c applesauce (1 individual cup)

Topping:

1/3 c sugar

1/4 c wheat flour

2 Tbsp cocoa

2 Tbsp butter, melted

Directions: Preheat oven to 400.

Mix together topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. To make muffins, mix flour,oats,chocolate chips, baking powder,

baking soda, and salt in a big bowl.

Mix the wet ingredients in a

seperate bowl (buttermilk,honey,oil,vanilla & applesauce) then

add to dry ingredients. Stir just until moistened.

Spoon batter into greased or lined muffin tins, and cover with topping and nuts if desired. Place

in oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 325.

Bake for 20-25min.

*My kids love these muffins. It is a moist, dense muffin that is really yummy. Of course it has chocolate chips (but not too many) to get that chocolate craving out of the way early in the day!*

Lunch on a Stick

Lunch on a Stick

You might not think this is a real recipe, but it is one of the most successful lunches for my toddler and little girl.

Ham - cut into cubes

Turkey- cut into cubes

Cucumbers- cut into cubes

Cheese -cut into cubes

carrotts

green peppers

olives

toothpicks

You can basically use whatever you have in the fridge. I have just found that kids will eat anything if you let them stab it with a stick!

Pancakes

Pancakes

1 c flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

1 c Milk, Soy Milk, or water

1 &1/2 Tbsp oil

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients together, then add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Cook on hot griddle til brown on both sides. This batter is a good consistency to make shapes with (ie: mickey mouse, ghosts, alphabet letters, etc)

This recipe is compliments of Kylie's Blog.

Honey Wheat Bread

Honey Wheat Bread

2 c warm water

1& 1/2 Tbsp yeast

1 tsp sugar

1 & 1/2 tsp salt

1/3 c honey

1/3 c oil

2 c wheat flour

5 c four

Dissolve yeast in warm water (about bath temperature water). Add the sugar to the yeast and water and let the yeast proof (bubble), about 10min. Add the salt, oil, honey, and wheat flour. Add enough white flour to make a soft dough. (It should just barely stick to your finger) Put dough into a large greased bowl and let rise til double in size (about 1 hour).

Punch down dough, shape into 2 loaves and put into greased loaf pans (9")

Cover and let rise til above the pan (about 30-45min) then bake in 375 oven for 25-30min.

Brown Sugar Muffins

Brown Sugar Muffins

1 c brown sugar

1/4 c applesauce (or one of the individual cups)

1/2 c crisco

1 tsp baking soda

1 c milk (or water)

2 tsp vanilla

2 c flour

Cream together crisco and brown sugar. Add applesauce and vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in milk (0r water) and add to creamed mixture. Add flour and mix well. Spoon into well greased muffin tins or tins with liners and bake at 350 for about 20min. (Muffin should bounce back when you press on it with your finger) You can also add nuts, blueberries, etc.