Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa Burritos

This is a combination of ideas from the internet and my own to try to duplicate Cafe Rio's. This recipe makes at least 8 servings.

Pork
4 lb. pork shoulder roast
1/2 c. water
16 oz. coke (I used caffeine free)
14 oz. enchilada sauce
1 can diced green chiles

Green Chile Rice and Black Beans
3 c. water
1.5 c. uncooked rice
1 bottle green taco sauce
1 14.5 oz. can black beans

I slow cooked the pork roast in the water on low for 8 hours, shredded the pork, added the other ingredients, and cooked another hour. For the rice I simply cooked it and added the taco sauce and black beans. Delicious. I tried to make homemade tortillas too, but that didn't turn out so well. I think I need a tortilla press to do that right. Anyway, I hope you Cafe Rio lovers out there enjoy!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Easter Story Cookie Recipe

While Easter is long since past, I thought I would share this cute idea I found a few years ago to do with your kids around Easter time. It's a perfect FHE idea! Also, I am sad that there hasn't been any updates on this blog since February! So here's my contribution at this time of Spring:

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
I cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape and Bible

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break into small pieces.

Explain that after Jesus was arrested, the Roman soldiers beat him.
Read John 19: 1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for us.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed the egg white mixture for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a wax-paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven. Close the door and turn the oven to OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they must feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were also in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 & 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9. HE IS RISEN!