About Me

Words to describe me include: fun-loving, kind, caring, outgoing and up for a new adventure. Some of my interests in a nutshell, gardening, crafts, cooking, the outdoors, camping, hiking, photography, and creating positive relationships.

Monday, June 18, 2012

My Sincerest Apologies...

I must apologize for not blogging lately.  I'll give the skinny of what's been going on and hopefully we can move on and increase my blogs!

SOOOO.... big life changes.  My son was born in March.  Then when he was 3 weeks old, we moved into a new house!  Talk about stressful!  I tried to breast feed, but there was so much stress in my life that I couldn't produce enough milk.  It was very depressing when I was not able to breast feed.  We still are unpacking the house.  It seriously NEVER ends.  Keeping up with the house work, especially laundry!  I decided to start using cloth diapers too, BumGenius 4.0, I love cloth diapers.  I will leave that for another blog though.  It is tough though with a a newborn.  I have been unemployed since last June...for a year.  I am always looking and applying for jobs.  I also had to sell the Beetle, for a more family friendly car, now I have a VW wagon!  Can you believe it?  A Mom car!  Well, I guess I am a Mom now, but I am drawing the line at Mom jeans.  Just sayin'  :-)

For my birthday, in February, my husband got me a Canon Rebel ti 2(two).  It is amazing.  My newest endeavor is doing professional photography on my own!  I am so excited.  I have been working on a webpage, and business cards.  Not the webpage on the business cards, I just temporarily put it in there.  I am going to wait to get the webpage set up before I print the cards.  




So I am feeling like my blog might be taking a new direction.  I am still going to do recipes.  However, I am going to probably talk more about being a new mommy, try out different crafts and give tutorials, as well as trying out products and giving my review.  Love it or hate it, I will tell you what I think....I hope I don't get into trouble if I don't like something!  0_o

Speaking of BumGenius, I think my next blog will feature BumGenius diapers.
I am also going to show you my Faux-by (Moby).  I can make two for $15!

Stay tuned for next time!
Love, Annie



Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Chipotle Barbacoa (Crock-Pot) and Cilantro Lime Rice

Dinner tonight:  I was going to make carnitas, only to realize I didn't have any more pork roasts in the freezer.  I found a buffalo roast, so I am going to try Buffalo Barbacoa, in the future I will use a beef roast. I am serving this with tortillas - flour today, I'd like to try white corn, homemade guacamole, salsa, sour cream, pinto beans, and Mexican cheese.  

Chipotle Barbacoa - Crock Pot
Serves 8

Ingredients
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar (can substitute with regular vinegar if needed)
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 3 chipotle peppers, canned (the cans usually say "in abodo sauce")

  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 4 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 4 lbs chuck roast
  • 3/4 cup chicken broth
  • 3 bay leaves

Directions
Make adobo sauce by combining vinegar, lime juice, peppers, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt and clove in a blender or food processor and puree on high speed until smooth.

Put frozen roast/meat in the crock pot.  Pour chicken broth over the meat.  Add the bay leafs to the broth at the bottom. Add the adobo sauce on top of the meat.



Cover the crock pot and cook on high for for 6-8 hours or low for 8-10 hours. At the three hour mark, take the lid off, trim the fat from the meat and shred the beef with two forks. If you are at work and unable to do this, shred it an hour before you serve it. Cover and cook for the remainder of the time.


Chipotle Cilantro-Lime Rice
Makes 6 cups of rice

Ingredients
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 cups converted rice (I'm using brown rice)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (You could probably do half olive oil/butter if you want it healthier and still have the flavor. 
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, minced
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice

Directions
Make the cilantro-lime rice by combining water, rice, butter and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to low, cover saucepan, and simmer for 20 minutes. When the rice is done stir in the cilantro and lime juice. Keep rice covered until you're ready to assemble the burritos.