Carnitas 3 Ways Food

CARNITAS 3 WAYS

Steps:

• Combine all seasoning in a bowl, mix well.
• Pleace meat in separate bowl and sprinkle seasoning and rub generously over meat - using all seasoning.
• Make Foil packet by laying out 2 long sheets of Heavy Duty Aluminium foil and make a cross.
• place meat on foil. Bring up sides of foil and fold making a packet.
• refrigerate for 6 hours (I marinade overnight, this gives it time to meld).
• SLOW COOKED: After marinating, place in a crockpot, cook 4 hours - the meat becomes very tender. Then transfer to a plate -- over Med-High Grill for 5 minutes to get a nice grill mark and crisp. Shred and eat in Tacos with Beans and Rice **** Our Favorite way to eat them*****.
• Or add 1 cup of water to the crockpot -- this makes the meat very tender and can be shredded for Burritos or tacos. (My Burrito Filling Recipe).
• GRILLING:.
• Preheat Grill- to 325 Place meat foil packet on grill and cover on indirect heat. Cook for 30 minutes then turn packet over and cook additional 30 minutes -- once more turn 30 minutes.
• Open foil packet carefully, With a fork remove from foil and place on the heat for 10 minutes and grill until grilled lines appear on outside.
• Serve in warm corn tortillas or with rice and beans. Or by itself.
• OVEN:.
• Preheat oven 325'.
• arrange meat in 9x13x2 baking pan into single layers.
• Cover pan tightly with foil.
• Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until very tender.
• Remove foil from pan and bake additional 15-20 minutes until meat is crisp on the outside.

RANCH-STYLE ELOTE / ESQUITES (MEXICAN CORN) 3 WAYS #RSC

Steps:

• Start by making the dressing. In a small glass bowl, mix the Greek yogurt with milk and the "Hidden Valley Ranch" seasoning mix, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to 24 hours) -- and away we go! --.
• "Stove-top / Broiling method for Elote": On the stove-top, boil frozen corn on the cob according to package instructions, (or micro-wave, per instructions). If using fresh, remove husks and boil corn in large sauce pan until tender. IMPORTANT: Save about 1/2 c of the water from the boiling process (it contains the starch) for the "Esquites" preparation method.
• While corn is boiling, preheat oven to 500* F with a rack set in middle of oven.
• When the corn is cooked thru, remove the ears of corn to a platter.
• Okay, here is where we can 'part ways' on cooking methods -- but for now, I'm sticking with the stove-top / broiler method for "Elote".
• Now that the corn is cooked, line a baking tray with aluminum foil. Brush each ear of corn with the melted butter, salt and pepper lightly and place on tray (NO chili powder yet).
• Place tray in oven and bake for approx 15 minutes +/-, rotating (rolling) corn often, until all sides are lightly browned. Once you've reached your desired browning, remove the corn to that same platter that we dirtied earlier.
• "Grilled Elote" (the true way): The other alternative is using your grill to brown. If you are starting your corn on the grill, (while skipping the boiling method), be sure to remove silk only, and soak corn in water before grilling. Leave husks on while grilling, until your ready to brown them. when cooked thru, remove husks, brush with melted butter and grill ears, while turning, to desired browning has been achieved.
• (There you have the basics done. Now, were 'parting ways' again -- You can have one cob each that serves 4, or you can cut each cob in half to make 8 small servings. Now, at this point, you can shave the kernels off of the cob using a serrated knife, into a bowl, and "voila", we are now morphing into "Esquites" -- but please wait patiently for that).
• If you want "Elote", leave the cob in tact, slather it with the dressing we made earlier, heavily sprinkle on the grated Parm and add a little minced chives. (Heck, roll it thru them)! Squeeze a wedge of lemon over the whole thing, and add the touch of chili powder (if you so desire). Now your Americanized Ranch version of "Elote" is done.
• "Esquites": You've shaved the kernels off the cob after boiling and browning. Now put the kernels in a bowl, add the desired amount of water that the corn was boiled in (1/4-1/2 c), then throw in a heap of the dressing, cheese and chives and mix well. Squeeze a couple of lemon wedges 'over the top' (only after mixing). Enjoy!
• *** I used the following substitutions to make my "Ranched-up" version vs the traditional:.
• Greek Yogurt, milk & Ranch seasoning = mayo.
• Parmesan cheese = Cotija cheese.
• lemon = lime.

3-INGREDIENT CARNITAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add pork, water or chicken stock, and 1 tablespoon salt to a large dutch oven with a tight fitting lid. Liquid should just cover meat. Add additional as necessary. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Transfer to oven and cook, about 3 ½-4 hours, until meat is very tender and liquid is reduced to 1 cup. Baste meat every 45 minutes with cooking liquid.
• Increase heat to 400 degrees F. Remove pot from oven and drain all but 3 tablespoons fat from pot. Add cumin, cloves, cayenne, and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Stir to combine, and return to oven. Roast, stirring after 10 minutes, until meat is browned, crisp, and liquid is evaporated, about 20 minutes more.
• If meat is very fatty, you may need to continue to drain fat as pork crisps. Season to taste with salt and and pepper, and serve in tortillas, with cabbage, sour cream, pickled red onions, cilantro, avocado and serranos chiles.