Shredded Beef Tacos

So tonight I finally tried something COMPLETELY new!  I have made things that are new to us but recomended, etc; but this one I found on my own and went for it!  I found it on Pinterest, but you can find the original here :)  It was amazingly outstanding and will most definitely be added to our list to have many more times in our life!!!  I think it would even be an excellent and easy thing to make when entertaining guests!!  There are 2 things I absolutely love in the world when it comes to Mexican food; homemade fresh salsa AND fresh guacamole.  Can't beat the flavors on either one and I think I do a pretty fantastic job making them :)  This time of year in Northern Indiana is not the greatest to find tomatoes to make fresh salsa so I went with guac only tonight!  It is so easy and super delicious.

Homemade Guacamole:

-2 avacados

-diced red onion

-cilantro

-lime juice

 

Mash up your avacados with a fork, chop your red onion VERY small, and chop the cilantro.  A squeeze or 2 of lime juice.  I also usually add some salt because I add salt to most everything ;-)

 

Now on to the main feature!!  I would eat either pizza or tacos every single day of the week if I thought my hubby would let me get away with it!!  Both are great and offer so many variations that I really feel like my options are endless!!  Someday I'll talk him into seeing it my way, someday!! :-) 

 

Here is what you need:

• 1 (2.5 lb) chuck roast
• 1 (14 oz) can beef broth
• 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder
• 1/2 Tbsp cumin
• 1/2 Tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
• Juice of 1 lime

Here is what you will need to do:

In a small bowl whisk together chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Place roast in a slow cooker, pour beef broth over roast then squeeze with fresh lime juice. Sprinkle roast with spice mixture. Cover slow cooker with lid and cook on low heat 8-10 hours. Remove roast from slow cooker, shred beef (remove fat) and return shredded beef to slow cooker. Cover with lid and cook additional 30 minutes. Remove beef from slow cooker with tongs to remove juices when plating or drain in a colander. Serve with desired toppings.

 

 Above are all the ingredients other than the roast.  Super easy and not spicy at all!!

Add the broth around your roast and sprinkle your seasonings on top.

Once you have cooked the roast for the time required, take it out and shredd it disgarding the fatty areas.  You will want to keep it in the broth until it's time to eat.  When that time comes, you will want to put it in a strainer of some sort so it is not going to make your shells soggy!!

 

 I used small corn torilla shells and grilled them up a bit.  Please feel free to use whatever shell type your family prefers :)

 I also had an assortment of items to top them with.  From really simple to really complex!!

 I chose to eat mine with cheese, guac, tomatoes, and sour cream.  They were to die for.  SERIOUSLY.  You should try them soon!!!

 

Have a great rest of your weekend!!!!! :)

Taco Pasta Bake

So last night I made this delicious Taco Pasta Bake!!  I am not going to write a huge write-up about it because it's sort of like old news!  It has been extremely cold and windy where I live these last several days and hunkered down on the couch with lots of blankets and warm socks is what I have been doing instead of cooking magnificent meals!!  I have a few pictures and HERE is the link to where you can find the original recipe!  Of course I found it linked through Pinterest :)

 

It was super yummy!!!  The hubby said it was a keeper!  He is such a good taste tester :)  Hope you enjoy!!!

Happy Birthday to my Mama!!!!!!!!!

So I have been super busy and have a moment today to write a post just to announce to the WORLD that it is my FANTASTIC Mother's Birthday!!!!!!  Other than my hubby, she is my most best friend and I could not be happier to have her as my mom!  I haven't always thought she was my best friend, but because she WASN'T my best friend growing up, she is now!  Her and my Daddy are awesome parents and if I can only be half as great as they are, I'll be happy!!  So Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!

 

Sausage Potato Chowder

So this is a classic recipe that my mom has made for years.  And she got it from a lady a church who has made it for even more years.  It's easy and delicious, a perfect combo for a cold February evening!! 

Here is what you need:

• 1 pound skinless smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 1/2 cups peeled, diced potatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

The first thing you want to do is peel and dice your potatoes.  Then dice up your onion and celery.  Throw those in a dutch oven and cover with the chicken broth.  It may not cover it completely, but that's OKAY!  Just make sure to stir often :)

Turn on your heat and once it is boiling, allow it to cook for a few minutes until the potatoes are tender but not mushy.  While this is cooking, slice up your sausage so you have it ready go.  Also mix up your flour and only 1 cup of the milk in a container that you can shake it together in.  When the veggies are ready, add the sliced sausage and the remaining 2 1/2 cups of milk.  Stir to combine.



Once that happens, you will want to add your milk/flour mixture too.  Once you add that, make sure to keep stirring constantly as to not let it burn on the bottom of your pan.  You will want to cook it until it becomes nice and bubbly as well as slightly thickened.

When it is boiling and thickened, add the frozen peas and allow them to simmer for several minutes.

After a few minutes remove the soup from the heat completely and add your cheese.  Keep stirring until all the cheese is melted into the soup.  Allowing it to sit for a few minutes before eating seems to help too!!

That's it!  See, EASY!  It is something that is really easy and usually very cost effective to make!  We have it for dinner and always have enough for lunches the next day. 

Happy Tuesday!!!

Sunday Comfort

There's not a lot better in the world than a hot meal of roast, potatoes, and carrots outta the crock pot.  There is just something about the perfectly cooked combo that says comfort!!  I took the easy way out this Sunday and threw a smallish roast from my local meat market along with a sliced onion, peeled potatoes, and baby carrots in my crock-pot.  Easy and delicious!!

 

I first put my roast in and sliced onions on top of it.  I tried something new this time and added a water/beef base mixture to basically cover it.  I wanted to make sure it stayed moist and tender!

 

Next I peeled and added potatoes on top.  I usually add quite a few because this is the whole meal all in one pot.  We like to eat it as leftovers for lunch the next day as well, and who wants only half of the meal tomorrow??  I don't dice them, I just cut them in half or if they are fairly small, I leave them whole :)

 

The final thing I added was carrots.  WOW how many carrots does one family need in the crock-pot at the same time?!?!  All of a small bag, thats how many.  See the problem is, we tend to fight over these AMAZING carrots.  They are perfectly cooked and seasoned with the broth!!  Plus, who's mom would be mad that they are fighting over CARROTS???  Mine might think it's odd thats for sure! :)

 

 

I pull the roast out of the crock pot and shred it some.  Then its every man for themselves in taking what you want from the potatoes, carrots, and broth.  I like to sort of mash up my potatoes and put a little butter on them followed by broth.  OUTSTANDING!!  Its so easy and simple, and pretty cost effective too!  This would easily feed 4 adults one meal or 2 adults two meals :)  It all depends on the size of your roast!!

(YES, my roast has ketchup on it.  Don't judge!! )

 

Hope you had a restful weekend!  Can't believe we're almost to the middle of February already!  Summer will be here before we know it!! :)