After feeling absolutely crummy the past two days, I was so ready to get back into the kitchen and start cooking for the blog. I sincerely look forward to the weekend when I can bust open the Pinterest board and look at all the choices you guys submit. Believe me, I am constantly watching that board and showing my husband the options you all present. But I wait until around Friday evening to decide which one we'll be making.
This week was hard! There were so many I wanted to make, and I needed help deciding! Normally I ask my husband for his opinion when I narrow it down to two or three, but even he couldn't decide. So since my siblings were "parent free" for the night, I asked them to pick and I'd bring it over to them! I sent them both the links, and my brother, who is as much of a food lover as I, texted back almost instantly that this looked absolutely amazing. So Beef Carnitas Tacos it was!
This lovely recipe from Eat, Live, Run was brought to you by Jazmine Finley!! Thank you, Jazmine, for your participation! I'm so glad you enjoy this project!
I am always looking for yummy crock pot recipes. Let me just take a moment to describe my love of Crock Pot. BEST. THING. EVER. If you do NOT have a crock pot, RUN. Run right now and buy one. I got mine at Target for around 20 bucks. Completely affordable. It is useful for busy people with almost no time to cook, lazy people who just don't want to (ehem... me, most work nights...), and *wait for it*... It's HUSBAND PROOF. Seriously, no matter how much he complains that he can't cook, he can use a crock pot. He can throw practically anything edible in there as haphazardly as he wants, and you will still eat a beautiful meal. So that's my love for the crock pot.
This week was hard! There were so many I wanted to make, and I needed help deciding! Normally I ask my husband for his opinion when I narrow it down to two or three, but even he couldn't decide. So since my siblings were "parent free" for the night, I asked them to pick and I'd bring it over to them! I sent them both the links, and my brother, who is as much of a food lover as I, texted back almost instantly that this looked absolutely amazing. So Beef Carnitas Tacos it was!
This lovely recipe from Eat, Live, Run was brought to you by Jazmine Finley!! Thank you, Jazmine, for your participation! I'm so glad you enjoy this project!
I am always looking for yummy crock pot recipes. Let me just take a moment to describe my love of Crock Pot. BEST. THING. EVER. If you do NOT have a crock pot, RUN. Run right now and buy one. I got mine at Target for around 20 bucks. Completely affordable. It is useful for busy people with almost no time to cook, lazy people who just don't want to (ehem... me, most work nights...), and *wait for it*... It's HUSBAND PROOF. Seriously, no matter how much he complains that he can't cook, he can use a crock pot. He can throw practically anything edible in there as haphazardly as he wants, and you will still eat a beautiful meal. So that's my love for the crock pot.
The recipe calls for 2 lbs of flank steak, but my local store of choice did not have "flank steak". I got flap meat, which I'm assuming is either the same exact thing, or very close. Basically, look for a thin cut of steak with lots of marbilization in the meat. The marbilization refers to the amounts of fat marbled throughout, which makes for juicier meat and easier shredding.
You will notice a little white ramekin full of spices in this picture, which is the rub you will use on your steak.
You will notice a little white ramekin full of spices in this picture, which is the rub you will use on your steak.
Take 2 teaspoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper and mix those babies up. This will be your run for you steak.
Sprinkle and rub the mixture on both sides of your meat, then place in the crock pot.
Sprinkle and rub the mixture on both sides of your meat, then place in the crock pot.
Gasp! But wait! There is a foreign substance on your meat, Jessica! You're right. Good eye!!
That, my dears, is brown sugar. But why, you may ask. I'll tell you. The recipe has an overpowering amount of spices in it. If you add a small amount of sugar to spicy recipes, it brings out the all over flavor and kind of melts it together. Instead of being kicked in the face by spice and heat, adding the sugar allows the heat to be a slower development instead of knocking your teeth in. Kind of how adding a touch of salt to recipes brings out the flavors more, so acts the sugar in this recipe. Don't worry, I did not add enough sugar to turn this into a Sweet Barbacoa. I sprinkled about 1 1/2 teaspoons of brown sugar on top of the meat. You can do as you will, but I suggest you do the same. ;)
Now you have your meat in the pot, so get to chopping your veggies! The recipe calls for 1 whole onion, but I used half because my onion was particularly strong. 1 whole red and 1 whole green bell pepper, and 1 whole seeded jalapeno. By seeding the jalapeno, you are taking out a majority of the heat so don't worry about it being too hot.
To seed a jalapeno, simply cut off the stem, then cut down the middle lengthwise. Then simply use your hand and remove the white innards and the seeds.
Now you have your meat in the pot, so get to chopping your veggies! The recipe calls for 1 whole onion, but I used half because my onion was particularly strong. 1 whole red and 1 whole green bell pepper, and 1 whole seeded jalapeno. By seeding the jalapeno, you are taking out a majority of the heat so don't worry about it being too hot.
To seed a jalapeno, simply cut off the stem, then cut down the middle lengthwise. Then simply use your hand and remove the white innards and the seeds.
STOP. LOOK AT THE PICTURE. What am I doing wrong?? ... If you said "you're not wearing gloves" you are absolutely correct. I forgot. This is a simple no-brainer tip, and I completely spaced. And my friends, I suffered for it later.
Those nasty little seeds have an oil all over them called capsicum (there is your science for the day!). That oil is so hard to remove. Even though I washed my hands about 4 times after dealing with peppers, it was still there. Touching my face was a bad idea. An even worse idea was itching my nose... Guys my nose and fingers and face burned for about 5 hours afterwards. Burning on your fingers can be ignored. Burning on your lips can be ignored. Burning in your nose? IN your nose? Can't be ignored. I tried blowing and rinsing with water... just made it worse. I decided that instead of dipping my nose in milk for a few minutes that I would just wait it out, and it was no fun. So PLEASE learn from my brain fart, and WEAR GLOVES.
Those nasty little seeds have an oil all over them called capsicum (there is your science for the day!). That oil is so hard to remove. Even though I washed my hands about 4 times after dealing with peppers, it was still there. Touching my face was a bad idea. An even worse idea was itching my nose... Guys my nose and fingers and face burned for about 5 hours afterwards. Burning on your fingers can be ignored. Burning on your lips can be ignored. Burning in your nose? IN your nose? Can't be ignored. I tried blowing and rinsing with water... just made it worse. I decided that instead of dipping my nose in milk for a few minutes that I would just wait it out, and it was no fun. So PLEASE learn from my brain fart, and WEAR GLOVES.
Chop up all your veggies. They do not have to be uniform and they can be as big or small as you'd like. Then dump them all in the crock pot.
The end! Well, not really, but you get what I'm saying. Put the lid on, plug it in, turn it on low for 8 hours and forget about it.
I did not have 8 hours. So I turned mine on high for 4 hours, then on low for the last hour. It was perfect.
After you have let that guy sit and get all yummy and juicy, take it all out and put it in a pan for shredding.
I did not have 8 hours. So I turned mine on high for 4 hours, then on low for the last hour. It was perfect.
After you have let that guy sit and get all yummy and juicy, take it all out and put it in a pan for shredding.
Shred it all up and put together your taco!
I steamed corn tortillas, added my meat, added cilantro and avacado. Then I served it with lime slices for squeezing.
I steamed corn tortillas, added my meat, added cilantro and avacado. Then I served it with lime slices for squeezing.
I served this recipe to my siblings and my husband. We all had a good amount and said it was very good. Here's the thing, we all felt that something was missing. The pictures make it seem like it's BURSTING with flavor. It has flavor, don't get me wrong. I just wanted MORE. The heat was there. I just needed more flavor.
I would suggest (if possible) to hold off on adding the onions to the crock pot until about 1 hour before serving. The onions all cooked out and I think there needs to be a bit more bite to them. By not cooking them so long, it would allow more natural flavor to be present, but adding them for the last hour will cook them long enough to not be a pure onion taste.
I would also add more cumin. Instead of just having 1 teaspoon I'd do 2, making the chili powder and cumin equal parts.
This is a good starter recipe for carnitas, but this is also one to be played around with to your liking.
I would suggest (if possible) to hold off on adding the onions to the crock pot until about 1 hour before serving. The onions all cooked out and I think there needs to be a bit more bite to them. By not cooking them so long, it would allow more natural flavor to be present, but adding them for the last hour will cook them long enough to not be a pure onion taste.
I would also add more cumin. Instead of just having 1 teaspoon I'd do 2, making the chili powder and cumin equal parts.
This is a good starter recipe for carnitas, but this is also one to be played around with to your liking.
So play around with it! ADD things, TAKE things out. Use this recipe as a foundation for YOUR amazing creation. Use your instincts and let them dictate which flavors you want more or less of.
But don't those things look AMAZING?? You should definitely make this recipe at least once.
Keep sending me your pins, guys! I'm having so much fun doing this, and hopefully you're having fun reading and cooking along with me!
Until next post, send me your pins and I'll send you the wins!
But don't those things look AMAZING?? You should definitely make this recipe at least once.
Keep sending me your pins, guys! I'm having so much fun doing this, and hopefully you're having fun reading and cooking along with me!
Until next post, send me your pins and I'll send you the wins!
Crock Pot Beef Carnitas Tacos
Servings: 10 (2 tacos each)
Crock Pot Time: 8 hours
Prep Time: 10 minutes total
Ingredients:
2 lbs flank steak
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow onion
1 jalapeno, seeded
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar (suggestion)
corn tortillas
cilantro
avacado slices
lime
any other toppings
For Rub:
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin (Jess suggests 2 tsp)
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1. Mix together chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper in small bowl. Rub mixture on both sides of steak.
2. Place steak in bottom of crock pot. If using brown sugar, sprinkle on top of meat. Chop up both bell peppers, onion, and seeded jalapeno (USE GLOVES WHILE SEEDING!). Add all veggies on top of meat. (Jess suggests waiting to add onion until last hour of cook time)
3. Cover, then set on LOW for 8 hours, or HIGH for 4 and LOW for last hour.
4. When cooked, remove from crock pot and shred in pan. Assemble tacos as desired.
5. ENJOY!
Servings: 10 (2 tacos each)
Crock Pot Time: 8 hours
Prep Time: 10 minutes total
Ingredients:
2 lbs flank steak
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
1 yellow onion
1 jalapeno, seeded
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar (suggestion)
corn tortillas
cilantro
avacado slices
lime
any other toppings
For Rub:
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin (Jess suggests 2 tsp)
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1. Mix together chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper in small bowl. Rub mixture on both sides of steak.
2. Place steak in bottom of crock pot. If using brown sugar, sprinkle on top of meat. Chop up both bell peppers, onion, and seeded jalapeno (USE GLOVES WHILE SEEDING!). Add all veggies on top of meat. (Jess suggests waiting to add onion until last hour of cook time)
3. Cover, then set on LOW for 8 hours, or HIGH for 4 and LOW for last hour.
4. When cooked, remove from crock pot and shred in pan. Assemble tacos as desired.
5. ENJOY!