Showing posts with label tacos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tacos. Show all posts

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Pork Carnitas #Recipe Peg Cochran/Margaret Loudon

 


I'd never made a pork shoulder roast before and had always stuck to leaner cuts like pork loin, but the pork shoulder butt (how can it be both?) was on sale so I decided to give it a whirl.  This was delicious.  I had mine over some rice while the rest of the family opted for tortillas or taco shells.  I served it with some chopped tomatoes, red onion and a dollop of sour cream.  This made quite a lot so I have some in the freezer for another time.  The recipe is from Recipe Tin Eats.

Ingredients

1 4 lb. pork shoulder (pork butt), boneless or 5 lb. bone-in    

2 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 onion , chopped

1 jalapeno , deseeded, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup juice from 2 oranges

Rub

1 tbsp dried oregano

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp olive oil

 

Dry the pork shoulder with paper towels and rub all over with the salt and pepper.

Combine the rub ingredients and rub all over the pork.  Place in a slow cooker.


 

Top with the onion, jalapeno and garlic.  No need to mix.  Pour the orange juice over the pork.


 

Cook pork on low for 10 hours or on high for 7 hours until it shreds easily.

Remove pork and shred.  

 


 

Crisp pork:  heat olive oil in a skillet until hot.  Add shredded pork, drizzle with some of the juices.  Cook until the liquid has evaporated and the bottom is golden brown and crusty.  Turn and briefly sear the other side.  (This may take two batches.  If the pan is too crowded, the meat will steam.)

 


 

Remove pork from the pan and drizzle with juices.  Serve hot.  Can be served in tacos, quesadillas, over rice or in a tortilla.

 


 

 

  
 
When a wealthy local benefactor is slain on the farm, Monica has to figure out who wanted to cash in on the killing . . .

As Sassamanash Farms hunkers down for the long winter, Monica agrees to let the local animal shelter host their Christmas-themed fundraiser there. The draw of the event—a chance to have your pet’s picture taken with Santa—brings in animal lovers from far and wide. But when the crackling fire dies down and the festive holiday props are all carted away, Monica discovers a very un-jolly sight next to the barn—the dead body of one of the shelter’s biggest donors. With the farm’s good name in jeopardy, Monica goes to work to root out the killer.

By all accounts the victim was a charming and generous supporter of the shelter, but Monica discovers that he was loathed by those who knew him for being tight-fisted and unscrupulous. Suspecting money might be the motive, she turns her sights on his stylish wife and her lavish lifestyle, along with the manager of the struggling shelter, who stood to collect a hefty bequest from his will. But as Monica closes in on one final clue, the culprit closes in on her. Caught unawares, she’ll have to survive the brutal winter weather, as well as a cold-blooded killer . . .
 

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Tuesday, January 27, 2026

FRITO SHEPHERD'S PIE from author Cleo Coyle for National #CornChipDay #glutenfree


With National Corn Chip Day coming up this Thursday (we kid you not), Marc and I decided to re-share our own unique twist on the famous Frito Pie, which the late, great chef Tony Bourdain once called "shockingly tasty." 

We agree! And our version takes it to the next level...


Our Frito Shepherd's Pie is a unique cross between
a tasty taco and pan of loaded potato skins.

And the best part? 
It’s full of good nutrition. 
Read on to learn more...


Cleo Coyle writes two
bestselling mystery
 series with her husband.
To learn more, click here.


☕ A Recipe Note from Cleo 

Our readers may remember this amazing pie from our 13th culinary mystery, Billionaire Blend. In the book, Detective Mike Quinn tells the story of solving a homicide with members of the NYPD Bomb Squad (historically known as the Italian Squad). 

When the case is done, members of the squad take Quinn to an Irish pub for a night of "Frito Shepherd’s Pies" and some serious drinking. :)

While we're not advocating the drinking, this is the very pie that Detective Quinn enjoyed, and it's not only delicious, it's nutritious because we make it with lean ground meat, mix in black beans, and whip up our mashed potatoes with the skins on. The next day, a single leftover slice on a bowl of lettuce gives us an instant taco salad. 

Billionaire Blend:
A Coffeehouse Mystery
Click to learn more.

The recipe is deceptively simple. Yes, you start with a basic Frito Pie and top it with a Shepherd’s Pie crust of mashed potatoes. But there’s a trick to keeping the flavors balanced and avoiding a big mouth full of potatoes: We make our mashed potato crust very thin and mix it with a secret ingredient for great flavor: sour cream.


Sour cream is a classic topping for Tex-Mex dishes, but it’s also fantastic with potatoes, so it adds the perfect flavor note to the recipe, and (as mentioned above) turns our Frito Pie into a delicious cross between a tasty taco and a pan of loaded potato skins.

So if you’re tired of pizza (or looking for a gluten-free indulgence), consider this wonderful one-dish dinner. It’s incredibly satisfying, fun to eat, and easy to make.

~ Cleo





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Cleo Coyle's 
Frito Shepherd's Pie


Ingredients: 

1-1/2 cups mashed potatoes (leftover or fresh, recipe provided at end*)


1/2 cup sour cream 

1-3/4 cups whole Fritos corn chips + 1/4 cup crushed Fritos for garnish

1 to 1-1/2 pounds ground meat made into chili or taco meat filling (we like to add black beans to our for additional nutrition and fiber)

8 ounces Monterey Jack, Cheddar, or taco cheese mix, shredded

1 jalapeno pepper, cut into rings (optional)



DIRECTIONS:

Prep Step—Make your mash: Re-warm your leftover mashed potatoes in a microwave or on your stovetop. Or create fresh mashed potatoes from scratch (recipe provided  at end of directions*). Whisk in sour cream. Set the finished mashed potato topping aside.

Build Pie with...

Layer 1—Fritos: Line the bottom of a 10-inch oven-proof skillet or cast iron pan (or casserole dish or deep dish pie pan) with a single layer of whole Fritos corn chips (about 1-3/4 cups).




Layer 2—Meat: Heat your chili or taco meat (and beans) until nice and hot, and then evenly spoon the mixture over the layer of corn chips in the pan, covering the chips completely. 

Layer 3—Cheese: Sprinkle a little over half of the shredded cheese on top of the meat. 





Layer 4—Taters: Now dollop the warm mashed potatoes and sour cream from Prep Step over the meat and cheese. Use the back of the spoon to carefully smooth it into a thin, even layer. This is a thin layer so take your time and do it gently.

Layer 5—Garnish: Sprinkle the top of the pie with 
the rest of the shredded cheese and the final 1/4 cup of crushed Fritos corn chips.




Broil: Finish the pie for a few minutes under a preheated broiler. Watch for the cheese to melt and the potatoes to become lightly browned on their edges. This will take anywhere from 3 to 8 minutes, depending on your broiler. (Check often because broilers can burn things very easily!) Cut into slices and serve immediately. You can further garnish with jalapeno rings, salsa, guacamole, hot sauce, olives, or other favorite toppings you might use for tacos or nachos. 




*NOTE ON HOW TO MAKE 
FRESH MASHED POTATOES:

 Start with 3 large (or 6 small) white potatoes, about 1-½ pounds. Wash and cut into thick slices, leaving skins on for better nutrition, and boil for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft when fork tested. Drain well and mash with a potato masher or simply use a fork to smash the potatoes into small lumps and whisk vigorously until smooth. Follow recipe as directed, mixing potatoes first with sour cream, and then continuing with the recipe steps. 






BONUS RECIPE - LEFTOVER LOVE

INSTANT TACO SALAD!

This pie reheats like a dream. A slice of it also makes a great instant taco salad. Warm up a slice in the microwave and break it up over a fresh bowl of lettuce. Throw on some slices of avocado and olives or a fresh dollop of guacamole, and you’re set for a quick, healthy lunch.




Eat with cozy winter joy!

New York Times bestselling author 
of The Coffeehouse Mysteries and 
Haunted Bookshop Mysteries 

Cleo (Alice) with her husband, Marc


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