My Story in Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect

Carnitas with Green Chili Salsa

2/28/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've got lots of hobbies.  Cooking, gardening, sewing, photography and exercising - just to name a few.  My husband also has hobbies - but at the top of his hobby list - flying.  Albeit an expensive hobby - it's what he truly loves to do.  For reasons that I can't comprehend or even explain - Ben LOVES to be in a plane, thousands of feet off the ground.   He really doesn't even need to GO anywhere - it's just about the experience of flying for him.  Ben got his private pilots license about 22 months ago and I can assure you that he smiles the biggest when he's flying a plane.  There's no question that flying is his passion. 
Picture
Picture
We should all be so passionate about something as Ben is about airplanes and flying.  His dedication to achieving his dream of becoming a pilot is inspiring.  A goal that he set for himself and started striving for in high school, only to be put on hold for nearly 30 years. 

While I don't have the same passion for flying as Ben, I do have other hobbies.  I guess you could say that finding, creating and blogging about new recipes is my passion?  Is that a hobby?  I found this recipe for Carnitas in my Cook's Country magazine.  The original recipe was accompanied by a tomatillo salsa recipe but I put my own spin on the recipe and it was amazing.  
Picture
Picture
Carnitas with Green Chili Salsa
4 pounds boneless pork butt, cut into 2" pieces
2 pounds lard
24 (6 inch) corn tortillas
fresh cilantro
Lime wedges

Salsa
28 ounce can green chilies or tomatillos
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno, chopped
juice from 2 limes
1 garlic clove, minced
salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
Toss green chilies with 1 t. oil and transfer to a foil lined baking sheet. 
Broil until spotty brown.  7-10 minutes. 
Picture
Picture
Transfer chilies to food processor along with onion, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice, garlic, 3/4 t. salt, sugar and 2 t. oil
Picture
Sprinkle pork with 1 1/2 T. salt.  
Picture
Melt lard in Dutch oven.  Add pork and cook until bubbling.  
Picture
Transfer to oven and cook uncovered, at 300 until pork is tender.  (2 1/2 hours)
Picture
Remove pot from oven and let sit 30 minutes.  Transfer pork to cutting board and shred. 
Picture
Picture
Season pork with salt and pepper.  Divide among warm tortillas.  
Picture
Picture
Garnish with cilantro and serve with salsa. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
One of the great things about my passion for cooking is that it's something that I share with my brother and my parents.  Our mutual love for food bonds us and brings us closer together even though we live hundreds of miles apart.  My brother actually recommended this recipe to me after he made it for himself.  He gave it such high praise that I had to try it for myself.  I trust his recommendations completely so I knew that these Carnitas would be a huge hit.  He was right.  These were amazing.  
​
Ciao!  
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Whole Wheat Banana Blueberry Muffins

2/25/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Have you ever stopped to think about how powerful words can be?  They have consequences - both good and bad.  Words have energy and the power to heal, encourage and uplift.  They also have the ability to hurt, humiliate and harm.  We get to choose whether to use words to build or to destroy.  I'd like to say that I always speak encouragement and life but that would be a lie.  Ever try and navigate through a discussion with a blatantly hostile or abrasive person?  How do you speak positive and respectful words when someone is attacking you?  It's so hard not to get defensive and use harsh words to fight back but that's never EVER been an effective means of solving the problem.  Trust me.  

It takes discipline and practice to speak in a way that conveys respect, gentleness and humility - even in the face of adversity.  One of the things that I've had to do is to teach myself to breathe before I speak.  Taking a moment to breathe and think before I speak makes me more mindful of the words coming out of my mouth.  I'm not very good at controlling my tongue but I'm trying to be more aware of the words that I use.  I find it way easier to edit my words when I'm writing a blog post than when I'm having a conversation.  If only there were a delete button that I could press when I instantly regret saying something negative to a friend.  
Picture
I love the analogy that Gary Chapman uses to describe words as either bullets or seeds.  HIs point is that words can be used as "bullets" to inflict a feeling of superiority or condemnation that cause irreversible damage OR we can choose to think of our words as "seeds" and deliver them with a feeling of sincerity and supportiveness.  Speaking positive words is like sowing seeds in a garden.  They can grow and foster life affirming relationships.  I am choosing to make a conscious decision to be kind to all and speak words that are beacons of inspiration, enthusiasm and encouragement.   Kind and sweet words are always music to the ears of the listeners. "Words are free. It's how you use them that may cost you." -KushandWizdom

Perhaps that was too deep for a food blog but it's food for thought anyway.  Onto the recipe of the day - an amazing Whole Wheat Banana Blueberry muffin or a Blueberry Banana Whole Wheat Muffin.  I've rearranged these four words in so many different ways and I still can't decide how to best describe these muffins.  Words.  
Picture

Whole Wheat Banana Blueberry Muffins
  • 1 cup white whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 large ripe bananas 
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/8 cup coconut oil, melted and cooled
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. 
Mash banana with a fork. 
Picture
Picture
Add brown sugar, oil, egg, yogurt and vanilla to banana.  
Stir dry ingredients into banana mixture. 
Picture
Picture
Stir in fresh blueberries.
Spoon into muffin cups.  My batter filled 5 jumbo muffin cups. 
Picture
Picture
Bake 30 minutes at 350. 
Picture
Picture
Cool on wire rack. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
There's no reason that healthy eaters have to skimp on great breakfast muffins.  If you're trying to reduce the amount of sugar  in your diet - replace the brown sugar with stevia or another sugar replacement that you like or leave it out all together.  The blueberries and the banana really add plenty of sweetness to this moist, delicious muffin.  

​Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Roasted Ranch Potatoes

2/21/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Poor potatoes.  They've gotten such a bad wrap.  It's a shame really that anti-carb fanatics have turned the potato into a forbidden vegetable.  I for one am not buying into all of the bad potato press. 

Potatoes are inexpensive, they're available year round, they're full of vitamins and potassium and let's face it, few things are as delicious as a potato.  As if those weren't enough reasons to fall in love with potatoes, they're also super simple to prepare and they're incredibly satisfying.  After all what would Thanksgiving be without a giant bowl of buttery mashed potatoes?  What's a burger without fries or a sandwich without chips? 
Picture
I'm bringing potatoes back to our table.  White, red, sweet, roasted, baked or fried - bring em on.  I can't even think of a way to prepare a potato that I DON'T like but my favorite is probably baked or roasted potatoes.  It just doesn't get much better than a batch of roasted potatoes smothered in cheddar cheese and served with a ranch dipping sauce.  
Picture
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
Sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 Tablespoons milk
2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Potaotes
2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1" pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons fresh dill
Whisk sauce ingredients together in a bowl. 
Toss potatoes with oil, garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper. 
Picture
Picture
Arrange potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet. 
Roast 35-40 minute at 400.
Picture
Picture
Sprinkle with cheddar and bake another 3 minutes. 
Picture
Transfer to platter and serve with sauce. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Roasted Ranch Potatoes are a great side dish for almost any meal.  The next time that I make them I think I'll slice them into wedges though to make them even easier to dip into the ranch sauce.  Cubes or wedges, I think you're going to like these.  

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Grilled Rainbow Trout with Chimichurri

2/19/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Can we just start a club for people who really want to make and eat healthy dinners for themselves and their families but who fall massively short of their high expectations?  A club where we encourage each other even when we have to pick up fast food for dinner.   A support group for busy, stressed out parents who need to know that they're not a failure if they run out of time to fix a healthy meal and they order pizza instead.    

Since this sort of club may never exist, I'll take it upon myself to tell all of the stressed out parents that you're not alone.  You are not a disappointment, you're not inadequate and you should not feel guilty.  Believe me when I tell you that everyone shares in the struggle to provide healthy meals.  
Picture
Leave your guilt at the door and whether you cooked a healthy dinner last night or if it's been a month since you fixed a healthy meal - it's never too late to start preparing nutritious meals.  It's a daily struggle - trust me - I get it.  

It's easy to get discouraged when I try and fix healthy meals, especially when I spend an hour preparing a meal and my family really doesn't even enjoy it.  It happens to everyone.  Don't get frustrated, just get back on the healthy meal bandwagon and try again.  

If you're looking for a healthy meal that your family will actually enjoy - give this Grilled Rainbow Trout with Chimichurri a try.  
Picture
Grilled Rainbow Trout with Chimichurri
4 skin on trout filets
1 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
1 garlic clove
1 cup fresh cilantro
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1 Tablespoon chopped jalepeno
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
5 Tablespoons olive oil

Pat fish dry and season with 3/4 t. salt and pepper.  Let rest. 
Process onion, garlic, cilantro, parsley, jalepeno and 1/4 t. salt in food processor until smooth. 
Picture
Picture
Drizzle in lemon juice and 1/4 c. oil.
Brush filets with 1 T. oil.  Place on grill. 
Picture
Picture
Grill 3-5 minutes until opaque.  
Picture
Serve with chimichurri.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Monday is always fish night in our house and I'm always looking for new ways to prepare it.  The fresh and bright chimichurri sauce was such a nice compliment to this light and flaky fish.  If you can't find fresh trout - I'm sure that this chimichurri would be great on any type of flaky, white fish.  

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Broccoli Fritters

2/17/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
I think that we're all drawn to super positive people.  The kind of people who always have a smile on their face.  People who remain calm and cheerful even when it seems like the world is ending.  I'm not sure where this magical power of positivity comes from but I totally admire the glass half full attitude.  I wish that I could remain optimistic in the face of adversity but if I'm being totally honest, I struggle to remain grounded and happy when my world starts to collapse around me.  

The more time that I spend around positive people, the more that I realize that positivity may be less of a genetic trait and more of a learned behavior.  Positive people, in my opinion, are more grateful than people who have negative attitudes.  They appreciate the big and the small things in life.  They seem to live with the attitude that they may not have it all - but they have always have enough.  You rarely see them going after the bigger and better things in life.  They are content and grateful for everything they have.  

I feel like it was so much easier to be positive and grateful when we were young.  There were no bills to pay, errands to run or chores to be done, just friends to meet and sledding hills to be conquered.   It's easy to be grateful for a day spend riding bikes with friends or exploring in the woods.   I should be equally grateful for a day spent running from the post office to the grocery, cooking meals or weeding the garden.   I have to remind myself what a blessing and a privilege it is to be healthy enough to be able to accomplish everything on my to-do list for the day.  
Picture
So, I'm learning to be consciously grateful for everything that I have in my attempt to be a more positive person.  I know that there are days when I will get upset, disheartened or frustrated but I'm still going to try and count my blessings even on those days.  To be honest, most of my anxiety and negative attitude comes from the "what-ifs".  Like a lot of you, a lot of my anxiety comes from worrying about what could potentially happen in the future.  When I redirect my thoughts to the here and now, I tend to be more grateful for the things that I have right now.  

I'm also my own worst critic.  I find it hard to say positive things to myself.  It's much easier to speak encouragement and gratefulness to a friend than it is to tell myself those same positive things.  Speaking positive words to myself is totally unnatural and awkward but I feel like the "look on the bright side" attitude is worth striving for.  

I've heard that if you smile while you're talking on the phone, it will make you seem happier and more positive to the person on the other end.  Maybe there's something to that.  The fake it till you make it strategy.  

Eat all your vegetables. There are children in China who are starving and would be grateful for this food that you're wasting.  I heard this from my parents and  I told it to my kids.  OK, so maybe it was a little dramatic but the fact is that there ARE starving children - all over the world and we do need to grateful for the food that we have.  My goal was to get my kids to eat their veggies and to be grateful for them.  My strategy didn't always get them to consume more vegetables but maybe it made them stop and think about gratefulness for just a moment.  Don't worry, it won't take any extra convincing to get your kids to eat these broccoli fritters.   
Picture
Broccoli Fritters
  • 3 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup flour 
  • 1/3 cup grated cheese (Cheddar, Parmesan, etc.)
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • Olive oil or garlic infused oil for frying
Steam broccoli until fork tender. 
Chop broccoli into small pieces. 
Picture
Picture
Combine egg, flour, cheese, salt, pepper and chili flakes. 
Use a fork to fold broccoli into flour mixture. 
Picture
Picture
Form into 8 patties.  Heat oil in skillet. 
Fry patties until browned. (3 minutes per side.)
Picture
Picture
Drain on paper towels
Picture
Serve.
Picture
Not sure I'll be able to smile through my next "woe is me" slump but I'll certainly try and count my blessings and be grateful even on the hard days.  ​

​Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Like my page on facebook.

    Follow me on Instagram


    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    30 Minute Meals
    30-minute-meals
    Big Green Egg Recipes
    Chocolate
    Christmas Classics
    Comfort Foods
    Crock Pot Meals
    Fall Favorites
    Healthy-choices
    Healthy-choices
    My Favorites
    Springtime Treats
    St Patrick's Day Goodies
    Summertime Specialties
    Thanksgiving Classics
    Valentine Treats
    Vegetarian
    Winter Warm Ups

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

Photos from Free Public Domain Illustrations by rawpixel, Texas_Custom_Patios
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect