taco night

I have a personal belief that tacos are one of the most delicious foods ever created. After studying in Mexico and walking by a tortilla factory every morning then coming home to delicious Mexican meal of tacos, they have a special and very memorable place in my heart. So now when I eat a good taco, I don't only enjoy the delicious flavors and spices that hit my tongue, but I'm reminded of time when I didn't have a job, bills to pay and got spring break vacation, and that makes me smile.

The best thing about tacos?...The flavor combinations are endless!! Whether you make them with traditional Mexican flavors or even go as wild as those guys on the Kogi BBQ Trucks who are making Korean BBQ tacos with great Asian flavors (now I just need to get out to LA to try them!), tacos are just plain awesome. Recently I've been toying around with a recipe for shredded pork tacos that sit in your slow cooker/ Dutch oven all day and come out tasting amazing. It's not quite perfect yet, but the tacos still taste delicious, give it a try and let me know what you think!

Shredded Pork Tacos, Serves 5-6 people

• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs. Boneless pork shoulder, trimmed (buy one that's bigger than 2 lbs. b/c there's a lot of fat)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 can beef broth
• 1 lager-style beer
• 2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
• 2 Tbsp of the adobo sauce from above
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste

Trim your meat and cut into large chunks-small pieces will be overcooked at the end. Mix chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika and season meat, rub it in on all sides and let sit overnight. In a hot skillet sear each side of the pork and place in the bottom of your slow cooker or Dutch oven. Don't clean pan and add onions and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes or until tender. Add those into slow cooker.

Deglaze your pan with ½ cup of beef broth and ½ c. beer. Add in minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce and tomato paste and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil and simmer- cook until slightly thickened.

Season sauce to taste with S & P- it probably won't need much of either, but especially pepper. Pour sauce over meat and onion mixture. Cover the slow cooker or Dutch oven and cook:
Dutch oven: 175 degrees on middle rack for 8-10 hours
Slow cooker: Low for 5 hours or high for 8 hours

After those long 8 hours, take 2-3 ladle fulls of the liquid in your slow cooker and put it in a pan. Add the rest of that beer and can of beef broth and simmer it on low until it's reduced by at least half. Adjust seasoning (S&P)  It makes for a delicious, flavorful sauce or gravy for your tacos.
Serve your tacos with warm corn tortillas, and your favorite taco toppings- I like lettuce, cheese, avocado, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice. Pair it with your favorite Mexican beer and you'd think you were in Mexico... at least until dinner is over!

As much as I love to cook, it's always more fun when friends are over to enjoy the goods with you. So last night was TACO NIGHT a mi casa! Dinner was delicious and so much fun! My roommate made us a delicious fruit tart that she found in one of Ina Garten's books.... delicious, I wanted to eat it for breakfast, but instead I'll be eating it for dessert tonight! If you're throwing a dinner party, this is such an easy thing to make and everyone will adore you - I mean who doesn't love tacos?!