Slow Cooker Chili Lime Beef

I think in the past year, the only time we have eaten tacos with ground beef has been when we actually planned it.  We normally do some kind of slow cooked shredded beef or pork.  We also will do fish or sometimes just beans.

For Lunes Latino this week we did some chili lime beef.  It was so good!  When the family shoves another bite into their mouth so they can't even speak and all they can manage are smiling chipmunk cheek faces with a thumbs up, I think I'd call that a success. :)

Chili Lime Shredded Beef

What's In It:

1 lb stew meat or stir fry meat

1 lime, juiced

1 T chili powder

1 t garlic powder

1 t onion powder

1 t adobo seasoning*

What To Do With It:

Combine seasonings in a small bowl.

Place meat in the bottom of your slow cooker and pour/squeeze the lime juice over the top. 

Pour seasonings over the top of the meat and mix to combine.  I used my hands, but you can also use a spoon.  

Cook on Low for about 2-3 hours.  My slow cooker runs pretty hot, so I only needed about 2.    

Allow to cool slightly, shred (again I used my fingers, but do what'ch'ya feel), and return to slow cooker and stir to incorporate the juices.

YUM!

*The first ingredient in my adobo seasoning is salt, if you are using a sodium free adobo, add 1/2 t salt to the seasonings.

Get your Green On!

Ah Guacamole...how I love thee.  Let me count the ways.....

Guacamole is hands down the dish that I am most frequently disappointed with when I go out to eat.  I don't go out to eat very often, I think once every 2 months is about all it happens, but when I do, I have just stopped ordering guacamole - it just isn't worth it.    

Ze-Ra LOVES to go out to eat.  I did too as a kid, it's just the novelty of it.  Now all I see it as is having to wait longer for our food, entertaining kids while we are hungry and trying to be quiet, and having mediocre food that is too expensive.  Wow...that seems like it should be followed up with a Bah Humbug! 

When what I'm really trying to say is: Good food happens at home.  

Guacamole

What's In It:

2 avocados

1 can rotel, drained

1/2 c onion, finely diced

1 lime, juiced

1/4 t garlic powder, heaping

1 t salt

1 chipotle pepper, in adobo sauce (optional)*

What To Do With It:

Place rotel into a mesh strainer and allow to drain while you do the rest of the prep.  

Remove the pit from the avocados, peel, and place in a medium bowl.  

Add the remaining ingredients and mash avocado with a fork until desired consistency.  

Stir in the rotel.  If using chipotle pepper, finely dice and stir in.  

Cover with plastic wrap - to minimize browning, I place the plastic wrap against the surface of the guacamole.  

Allow to rest for a few hours for flavors to incorporate.  

*I normally add the chipotle pepper, I think the flavor and the heat are both better with it, but Te-Man isn't a fan of super spicy (thought he eats spicier things than I thought he would), so for now, we leave it out or add it in at the table. :) 

Pomegranate + OJ + Tequila = Happiness

Maybe you've heard about the pomegranates I picked up for super cheap last week and that I made some delectable cookies with them....but what to do with all of that beautiful juice?

I LOVE tequila.  I like it as a shot, I like it with a lime, I like it in a glass, I like it in a rhyme. :)

Look at how beautiful this is?!  

Pomegranate Margarita

What's In It:

Juice from 1 pomegranate Approximately 1/2 c

3/4 c Orange Juice*

1 shot Tequila

Ice, if desired

What To Do With It:

Combine, drink, repeat. :)

*Orange juice is a little sweet for me, so I cut mine with water.  You can use straight OJ or a water OJ/mix.

Ooooo - I just had a thought...what if you used Champagne instead of Tequila...then you could totally drink this in the morning and not feel guilty.  Oh...is that just me? :) 

Am I Crazy?

Yes....yes I am.

When you sit back and ask yourself what you need in your life, is the answer ever really - more things to do and more things that will provide interruptions and unpredictability?  If your answer is yes, then you must be in the market for a puppy.

Meet Roland Kingsley.

He was one of 9 Australian Shepard mix puppies that were brought to the shelter in November.  He is adorable and so sweet.  We met him on Saturday and heartbreakingly had to leave him there until his vet appointment Wednesday.  They'll fix him and give him a thorough once over to make sure he's all set and then he'll come home to this house of madness! :)

He already has brand new toys, a dog bed, collar, leash, puppy chow, and 2 very excited children eagerly awaiting his arrival!

I sure hope I feel this excited about him in a few weeks...at 3 in the morning when I'm outside in the 25 degree weather begging him to pee. hahahaha ;)

3 New Honey Bee Bottom Diapers

Do you know a little girl in your life that needs a little bit more sass in her life?

I think these diapers are perfect for a little girl that is more than just rainbows and kittens....not that there's anything wrong with rainbows and kittens....but sometimes a girl needs a little wild side  ;)

Stop by and add a few of these to your Honey Bee Bottoms cart.

Buckeyes....on steroids

This past weekend Hit Girl messaged me and wanted to know if I had Super Mom's recipe for Buckeye Balls.  Amazingly, I did not (I do now, she forwarded Super Mom's text) but it got me to thinking....I do like buckeyes, but there is always something missing.  I'm not sure if I've made it abundantly clear or not, but I am a crunch kinda girl.  A lot of times if I eat a meal that has no crunch, I'll go grab just one crunchy bite of something or other or else I feel like I'm just not done.  I have all kinds of weird stuff running around up in my head.... haha. :)

Anyway, I got to thinking that a crunchy buckeye would be perfect....then it hit me, pretzels, peanut butter, and chocolate - heck yes!  The recipe hunt was on - and it took all of about 3 minutes to find this one.

Ok, I didn't have enough peanut butter to make the entire 9x13, so I decided to just make an 8x8 but then realized that my 8x8 doesn't have a lid....in comes my tart pan that never gets used.  My pictures are definitely not as beautiful and professional as the original recipe, but I kinda think they turned out perfectly.  The filling to chocolate topping ratio was perfect and I almost put a padlock on the fridge to stop myself from eating them all.  I made them on Saturday and I've only had three - one that night and then these two. :)

Haha - I should earn a medal for self control ;)

Steroid Buckeyes

What's In It:
1 c peanut butter
3/4 c butter, softened
2 c powdered sugar
2 c pretzels, divided optional
1 1/2 c chocolate chips, divided

What To Do With It: 
Crush pretzels using a rolling pin or get cave man on it and use your hands like I did.  If you want to garnish the top with some crushed pretzels, reserve about 1/2 c.  Cream peanut butter and butter in mixer until smooth.  Add powdered sugar, mixing slowly until incorporated.  Add in pretzels and 1/2 c chocolate chips.  

Press into a greased baking pan of your desired size (8x8, 9x9, etc).  

Melt remaining cup of chocolate chips and spread over the top of the filling.  If desired, sprinkle with reserved pretzel pieces before chocolate cools.

Wait impatiently for the chocolate to cool....we put ours in the fridge. :)

Pinterest Strikes First

So, I made these for Ze-Ra for her birthday last year and we still talk about them, so I figured I'd keep with the birthday business today and share them with you. :)

This pic was taken a LONG time ago and back then I didn't know I'd be posting it for you all to see,  You should go check out the pictures on the original site, they are beautiful!  ;) 

They were ridiculous.  I mean chocolate chip cookie, oreos, fudge, and brownies?!  I can't believe we didn't die of a sugar coma.  WHOA!

Chocolate Chip Oreo Fudge Brownies

What's In It:
1 c butter, softened
1 c sugar
3/4 c brown sugar
2 lrg eggs
1 T vanilla
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
2 c (12oz) chocolate chips
1 pkg oreos
1 family size* brownie mix, prepared
1/4 c chocolate syrup

What To Do With It:
Prehead oven to 350 degrees F.  Cream the butter and the sugars until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.  Add baking soda, salt, and then flour.  Mix just until combined.  Press into a 9x13 baking dish that has been lined with wax or parchment paper and greased.  Top with a single layer of oreos. Add chocolate syrup to the prepared brownie mix and pour over the oreos.

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Remove foil and bake an additional 15-25 minutes or until set.  Allow to cool completely before cutting.

*If you want to use an 8x8 brownie recipe, like this one, only use half of the cookie dough mixture.