Sweet Pork Burros

So, I make this Costa Vida copycat recipe. It is very yummy. However, I don't think it's an exact match as far as the flavor of the sweet pork at Costa Vida. My mom has a DELISH recipe for sweet pork and makes a heavenly tomatillo dressing that's just like at the restaurant, but it's much more involved and requires ingredients I don't usually have on hand. SO, here's the one I use cause it's easy, yummy, and I don't have to make an extra trip to the store.

Meat:
Pork
Brown Sugar
Salsa

Place pork (mine's usually frozen) in crock pot. Cover with brown sugar (probably 1/2 a cup or less, depending on how much meat you're using) and salsa (probably 1/2 a jar or more). Cook on low for several hours. Shred and stir before serving.

Rice:
1 C. rice (I use brown, but white is more like the restaurant)
1 small can diced green chiles
onion
garlic, minced
cilantro
spoonful of "butter"

Place green chiles, onion, and cilantro in food chopper and chop until "fine". Place all ingredients plus one cup water into pot and cook like you usually cook rice.

Serve meat and rice in tortillas (the kind you cook yourself are best) with cooked black or pinto beans. Top with cheese.

*Last night I made my own version of pico de gallo with tomato, cilantro, and green onion. Yum. I also used feta cheese instead of the shredded cheddar I usually would use and it was GREAT! I know I was a little vague on the exact measurements for the meat and rice, but if you ever want to make this, let me know and I'll be more specific!

Greek Pasta Salad

I had this at a baby shower and it was divine, so I asked the lady who brought it for the recipe. She brought it cold, sans chicken. For our dinner I did it with the chicken and served warm. I set aside some for Ryan before adding the olives, red peppers, tomatoes, and feta cheese. I LOVE the flavor combo of having all of it together! It was delish and easy! I recommend it!

*I'll give you the same disclaimer as the lady gave me: the seasoning contains MSG... if that matters to you.


Greek Pasta Salad

1 lb. corkscrew or penne pasta
Chicken breast – brown in olive oil and lot’s of cavendar’s seasoning
1 can olives – sliced
1 red pepper – diced
Broccoli – cooked till soft (not overcooked- can run cold water on it to
stop the cooking)
Cherry tomatoes - optional
Feta Cheese – crumbled

Mix all together - Add dressing – then add feta last

Dressing:
½ cup olive oil
½ cup vinegar
3 Tbsp cavendar’s greek seasoning (yellow and red container found in
the spice aisle of any store)

** for authentic greek salad use artichoke hearts instead of broccoli. I
just don’t like artichoke hearts so I changed it.

homemade bagels

this is now one of my favorite recipes of all time.
they are SO easy and sooooooooooo good.
i love putting blueberries in them.
you can see the one in front i didn't seal very good...but it was still delicious.

so here is the recipe!

homemade bagels

don't be afraid...make them! :)

chocolate chip granola bars (gluten free!)

today was the first day i've ever made granola bars.
these are yummy...but i'll definitely be trying out some other recipes.
my only complaint (besides that emerson didn't like them) is that they aren't as firm as i wish they'd be. they fall apart easily. not sure if i could just use a little less oil or what.

anyways! sage + jim + i all love them!

once again from good ole' martha!

Nonuttin' Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Salsa

We had homemade salsa last Sunday and Lindsay asked me to post the recipe. We got this recipe from Nancy Hansen back in 2001 and served it at Amy & Tim's wedding reception! Yum!

1 clove garlic
1 bunch green onion, chopped
A few sprigs of cilantro (4-5 leaves)
1 can chopped green chiles, drained
1 large can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
1/4 can El Pato sauce (hot) Yellow can w/duck on it!

Put the garlic, green onion and cilantro in the blender and blend for a few seconds. Add the other ingredients and blend for 5 seconds.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread (with flax seed)

i used the recipe HERE on martha stewart's website.

NOTE: i added ground flax seed (ground in the blender).
next time i will probably add even more grains.

jim and i watched the move food inc earlier this week.
and it seriously changed our outlook on food.
i know i can't change everything we want to immediately...
but making my own bread is one thing that is really easy to do!

we really loved this recipe and will probably use it most of the time...
unless i find something else we like better.

zucchini bites

this is an easy summer side dish or appetizer. i've made it a few times this summer - and finally decided to take a picture. and this has been a perfect use of leftover breading from chicken bites or other breaded chicken recipes. {ritz/parm mix consists of 1 sleeve Ritz and 1/4 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese... blended together in food processor}

you need: 2 zucchini, ritz/parmesan breading mix, marinara sauce

preheat oven to 425*
slice zucchini about 1/4" - 1/3" thick
rinse in water
cover in ritz/parmesan breading mix
place on foiled and Pam'd baking sheet
cook for about 10 minutes, turn zucchini over
cook for another 10 or until crispy... or desired doneness.

enjoy with hot marinara sauce.


oh, and my 3rd time making these was a charm. i realized in order to make them as crispy as i like i needed to place the pan on the bottom row in the oven. worked much better.