Saturday, January 10, 2015

Chile Verde Smothered Burritos--My Aunt's Recipe


My aunt is a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen and last week she made us a delicious dinner.
Her homemade chile verde sauce puts these smothered burritos over the top!! 

On the Facebook page I asked "fans" to "Like" this post if they wanted me to share my aunt's recipe. 

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Well folks, the fans have spoken. 

With my aunt's permission, I am posting the secret family recipe and as usual the secret is in the sauce. 

After you try this fresh chile verde salsa you will never go back to the stuff in the jar.

Chile Verde Smothered Burritos

You'll need:
Boneless Pork
Seasoning: Salt, garlic, cinnamon, cumin.

Refried Beans: (Homemade refried beans recipe--on the blog soon!)

Salsa Verde: 
Fresh Tomatillos
Serrano Chilies
Fresh Garlic
Onion
Cilantro
Lemon Juice
Salt

Here's how:
Chop pork into bite sized cubes, season and sear it on high heat, 
Reduce to medium and cook until done.

For the Salsa Verde blend the fresh tomatillos, serrano peppers, garlic, onion, cilantro, lemon juice, salt, and cumin. 
IF it seems too thick, add a splash of water.
Add ingredients to taste and make it as spicy as desired.

You may be thinking, "What on earth are tomatillos and serrano peppers and where do I find them?"

You'll find these tasty peppers in the grocery store in the produce section next to the jalapenos! 

Here's what to look for: 
photo credit: Urban Food Guy

Mix salsa verde with pork  

Now it's time to build those burritos! 
1. Warm up a tortilla
2. Spread  beans & cheese in the middle
3. Wrap burrito 
4. Top with pork salsa verde mix & sprinkle with cheese.
5. Microwave or broil on low to melt cheese if desired. 

Enjoy!

Without Diversity Life Would Be Bland


I wrote a mini-essay for a diversity scholarship application last night and I must have had food on the brain--I usually do.

When I think about diversity, the first thing that comes to mind is cooking. Some of the best dishes result from fusing two or more types of cuisines together; for instance “Tex-Mex” and “Korean Tacos”. Just think about how bland food would be if we never took risks by combining different flavors together. That’s how I feel about diversity. Without it, life would be bland.

My family is a fusion of a variety of cultures from all around the world.  I am proud to be a mixed race. I live in a rural community where minorities make up only a small percentage of the population. However I do not let being different cause me to feel inferior in anyway. On the contrary, I feel honored to be apart of this community as a representation of my ancestors.  As a mother, I have taught my children to embrace their diverse heritage, which is something I will encourage my students to do as well when I become a teacher.

I am grateful to be apart of Eastern Oregon University’s online campus because it allows me to be connected with such a diverse group of students and faculty. I get the opportunity to correspond with classmates from all over and each one brings their own experiences, knowledge and outlooks on the world. I take great pleasure in learning all that I can from each interaction I have via class discussion boards, peer mentoring, and group projects. I believe the diversity that exists at EOU enriches the college experience for all students, as it does in all aspects of life.

I believe diversity is crucial for humans to thrive in the world. Just like a good recipe is not created with only one ingredient. It takes a variety of flavors to come together to create a truly satisfying meal.