A New Twist on Taco Night

This is one of my favorite ways to spice up the boring and bland taco night. The smell of the meat cooking all day in the crock pot is divine. Not to mention the fact that I love throwing it all together in the morning and not give it another thought until right before I dish up plates. Hope your family enjoys it too!

Beef Carnitas

Spice Rub: * honestly I just sprinkle away on my meat and don't measure, but here is what I would use if I measured

• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

 

• 2 lbs Flank Steak
• 1 cup beef stock
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 1 green pepper diced
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced

Cover both sides of the steak with the spice rub.

No jalapenos in the pic as I didn't have any on hand.... still yummy just a bit more mild.

 Place into the crock pot and place the rest of the ingredients on top of the meat. Just a little plug here for those busy cooks who don't like to use the crock pot because it is a pain to clean after cooking all day - crock pot liners, they are great time savers, just dump the juice and toss when its time to clean up.

smells so yummy!

Cook at least 6 hrs on low and then shred the meat.

 

Then serve on salad, in tortillas or on chips as nacho meat. Now our typical taco night has sides of black beans and rice. However, recently our little family has been trying really hard to eat a bit healthier so, we've been trying to substitute white rice for brown but in all honesty Mexican rice just doesn't taste right with brown rice. This led me to the thought of trying quinoa as a substitute. It turned out great.

Mexican Quinoa

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1Tbsp butter
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp cumin

So this is super simple recipe. Place the quinoa in the chicken broth and butter.

 

 Bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and cook for 15 mins. When the liquid is all absorbed dump in the salsa, garlic salt, and cumin. Continue cooking another 3-5 mins until the salsa liquid is absorbed also.

Doesn't look like much in the picture but it is so filling.

Now its time to dish up your plate and enjoy a new take on traditional taco night.