Weeknight Party Girl :: Slow Cooked Street Tacos

So technically, not a Weeknight Party, but the Super Bowl is one of the ultimate 'simple' party times of the year.  We gather, we toast, we cheer, we eat.  But we must eat in front of the television because even the ads can't be missed.  And so, by the nature of the event, we must eat and entertain as if it were a weeknight.  The great thing is that you have more time to prepare for the weekend which makes my Slow Cooked Street Tacos the absolute perfect snack.  The meat cooks for three hours {start when you get up} and then it's done.  Guests help themselves, you watch the game.

1 (7.75) ounce can El Pato Salsa de Chile Fresco

1/2 cup ketchup

8 whole cloves garlic

1 tablespoon oregano

2 1/2 pounds pork shoulder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

:: to serve ::

corn tortillas

fresh chopped cilantro

sour cream

salsa

shredded cheese

guacamole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Fill a heavy cast iron pot with ketchup, El Pato, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.  Stir to combine all ingredients.  Chop meat into 8 even sized pieces and place in the pot.  Bring to a boil over medium heat rotating pieces of meat to coat completely in sauce.

Cover pot and place in preheated oven.  Bake 3 hours.

Remove from oven and shred beef with two forks.  Serve along side toppings and warmed tortillas. 

Serves 4


Fresh Holiday Traditions :: Pepparkakor

Pepparkakor and Christmas go hand in hand in our family.  I have been scared off from making them in the past because of how stiff the dough is and the massive quantity of cookies this recipe makes.  Instead of seeing that as a problem, this year I took it head on and saw it as a challenge.  How can I make this a more approachable recipe?  How can I make them taste as delicious as the ones from my childhood?   Can I roll them thin enough?

After MANY MANY MANY batches of Pepparkakor I landed on a recipe and a technique that created the perfect cookie.  And then I sandwiched some Eggnog Ice Cream between two of them…  I think I know what we're leaving out for Santa this year!

2 cups sugar

1 cup butter, room temperature

½ cup

Ljus Syrup

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ cup hot water (110 degrees)

4 cups flour

2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon salt

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy.  Add ljus syrup and egg yolks and mix until incorporated.  Measure hot water into a glass measuring cup and stir in baking soda.  Pour soda mixture into the bowl of the stand mixer and slowly mix in.

In a separate bowl, sift together remaining ingredients.  With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients and beat until the batter just comes together.

Divide dough into quarters and roll each section out on floured parchment paper until ¼ inch thick.  Stack rolled dough {with parchment still on the dough} on a cookie sheet and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Remove one sheet of dough at a time, cut one inch circles with a cookie cutter.  Bake 7-8 minutes.  Watch them very carefully as they will burn quickly.  Repeat with remaining dough.

Makes about 48 one-inch cookies.

This is the original recipe from Mr. Hedin's grandmother and great-grandmother.  I tweaked it.

Check out the other posts in this series…

5 Minute Gratitude Journal 

Pumpkin Pancakes for Thanksgiving Morning

Gratitude Star Garland

Hand Stamped Thank You Cards

A December 1st Party

Painted Wrapping Paper

Party Hat Trees

About Fresh Holiday Traditions…

I’m teaming up with my friends 

Melissa

MJ

 and 

Jennifer

 to bring you eight fresh holiday DIYs. This is the last week of our weekly Christmas party.  I hope you've enjoyed it!

Cocktails with Hank & Hunt {and Bing Smart Search}

Last month my friend Jenny came over to shoot her super cool tissue paper fringe and asked me to create a cocktail to go along with it.  I'm completely obsessed with anything cranberry this time of year, so a cranberry cocktail seemed like a good idea.  Plus, it's a great color with her fringe.  

I'm also a little obsessed with making a punch.  It's usually super simple to create and then your guests can help themselves - which means you aren't having to play bartender all night.  I used 

Bing Smart Search

and P

interest to brainstorm a punch that was a great color, great tasting, and would be easy to serve a crowd.  

1 cup fresh cranberries

3/4 cup pomegranate juice

1/2 cup sugar

4 cups bianco vermouth

2 cups Aperol

2 cups soda water

In a saucepan, combine cranberries, pomegranate juice, and sugar.  Simmer over medium heat until berries begin to pop.  Let cool.

Pour vermouth, Aperol, and soda water into a punch bowl.  Stir in cranberry mixture.  

Garnish with sliced oranges and fresh cranberries.

This is my actual search for 'cranberry cocktail' - SO MANY PICTURES!

Click here to see Jenny's post on Hank & Hunt!

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