Ghost town.
Somehow, a week in Colorado wasn’t enough.
Regardless of how many days we set aside to spend in Durango, I always feel like I’ve spread myself too thin. The 7-hour drive home is full of “could-a, should-a” thoughts- I could have found an hour for this old friend, I should have gone on a hike that morning. Wishing I’d had more time for someone or something, I tell myself that on our NEXT trip, we’ll plan ahead. We’ll schedule time to try this new restaurant or finally make it to the hot springs. Often, despite the fact that the days are filled with people I love, I feel tuckered out at the end of the trip. Home is a relief. But within minutes, I’m looking at the calendar to plan our next Durango visit.
I’ve written before about my love-hate relationship with Durango. It’s not that I don’t adore it- it’s a part of me. It’s just that it’s haunted. There are ghosts everywhere. I feel them as I walk by places I once lived, see them in once-familiar faces I pass on the street. The sound of the train early in the morning, the smell of roasting green chiles in the fall, the sight of the elk herd in the valley. So many reminders of a past life I once led, of a different version of myself- that fun-seeking bohemian girl with a constant smile, full of the naiveté that comes from being young. Truthfully, I sometimes miss that girl, blindly forging ahead into dreams without enough true life experience to give her pause. I cling to the memory of my carefree days there, shuddering at the realization that I haven’t lived in Colorado for over 12 years.
The best thing about Durango is that, though the faces might be different and the names on the storefront signs might have changed, it feels exactly the same as it did a decade ago. My parents live there again, after a few years back in California. Many friends I made in my 20s still live the Durango life, welcoming me with hugs upon each return visit. The same small town characters fill seats at the bar or stroll Main Street’s sidewalks, and the town’s whole vibe is comfortably familiar. I have roots there.
The drive from Park City to Durango is lovely, over mountain passes and through rolling farmland. My only companion on the first leg of the trip was Cholula- John would be meeting us there in a couple of days. My co-pilot snoozed as I sang along to a new iPod playlist. Whether I was coasting across the open road of the desert or counting minutes at the back of a road construction line, I knew I’d be sipping wine with my family soon.
Upon my arrival, Cholula became acquainted with the newest family member, Lucky, while Pops grilled up some ribs. One weekend before Memorial Day meant summer was creeping up on spring. The backyard felt like a park- endless green grass, pops of colorful flowers on the patio, and the 30-year old Adirondack chairs I remember from my childhood.
I inherited my desire to wander from my parents. In the morning, we packed up the dogs and took a drive to Vallecito Lake, where we munched on take-out and sipped PBRs by the river. I spent the afternoon with Sarah, Cordell, and little Macy, who showed off almost-walking skills before we dined al fresco on their patio. TGIF.
On Saturday, Cholula kindly reminded me we needed to pick up Papa from the airport. We stopped in town for lunch, then popped by to say hello to Sarah and Cordell. We ended the day catching up with my folks. My dad fired up the grill, and we beat the slight chill in the air around a happy hour fire on the patio. Summer preview part one.
The annual Taste of Durango event was on Sunday. Along a big stretch of Main Street, restaurants and pubs set up booths full of yummy food and drink, purchased with tokens. The event is a fundraiser for a local charity, and was quite the social scene. We sampled delicious bites of food and sipped various cocktails, stopping to chat with friends along the way. As we meandered through the crowd, those “ghosts” of my old life weren’t hovering near-by, out of sight. They were right there, smiling in my face, hugging me, asking how I’ve been. Reconnecting with so many pieces of my Durango past was simultaneously overwhelming and energizing. The town really never changes.
Later that afternoon, my folks hosted Sarah’s family and our friend, Shane, for a pre-summer grill-out. John put together a batch of his famous spicy BBQ chicken and my mom whipped up a strawberry-rhubarb crumble, using rhubarb from her garden. The weather was ideal for entertaining outdoors, and the food was delish! Summer preview, part two.
Monday morning meant an early start for John. While he worked, I spent the last couple of days of the trip exploring dirt roads, hiking, and picnicking with my folks, stopping in to see friends, walking along the Animas River, and soaking in the beauty of Durango in late May.
And then, time was up. Shane caught a ride back to Utah with us, and I shared the back seat nest with Cholula. As the boys chatted about work and sports, I gazed out the window at the blurry farmland we sped past. How did 6 days go by so quickly? How did I run out of time? Why didn’t I spend more time with this person, that person? How am I so exhausted after a week of fresh mountain air and love from friends and family? As Durango faded into the rearview mirror, I felt little pangs of sadness. It’s hard to leave my family behind, hard to hug dear friends and regret not having more time together. But the closer we got to Park City, the more anxious I felt to be home. We had a garden to work on, a new deck to enjoy. We had grilling to do and al fresco meals to enjoy. We had friends to see and trails to explore. As is if on cue, the yard had exploded into lush greenness and vibrant flowers while we were away. Home felt good.
I realized this week that for me, Durango’s ghosts will always linger. They’re the stories of life, a chapter in my book that helped create who I am today. The days of making memories there aren’t over- we had a week full of new ones to add to the pile. The town may spook me now and then, but it’s those shadows of the past that build my history with Durango. That’s why I will always yearn to return.
Durango may be haunted, but I’m pretty sure those ghosts are nice.
**Want more vacation bliss? Click on the TRAVEL BUG link above!**
Bliss bits 5/23.
It’s BLISS BITS Wednesday Thursday!
Most of yesterday was spent in the car, returning home to Utah after a handful of days in Colorado. So there’s a bonus day of bliss-y bits in this week’s batch! No matter where I am, I try to take time to notice all of the little, wonderful things in every day. Smiles aren’t hard to find if you’re looking for them. Enjoy!
How many simultaneous lists can one person have?
I posted about a scrumptious year-round soup while I was on vacation!
This is why I love road trips. Stunning scenery in Utah!
Colorado is giving Utah a run for its money.
Fun with A Beautiful Mess‘s app. I missed this guy for the first part of the trip.
Nothing says SUMMER like a cold PBR.
Onion, rhubarb, and mint in Mom’s garden.
Little Miss Macy is on the move these days!
Bare feet. White wine. Green grass. Yes.
This guy was dressed as a beer on Main Street in Durango.
A big, beautiful poppy.
John grilled up his famous BBQ chicken one afternoon at my folks’ house!
Cholula is in L-O-V-E with the yard at Grandma’s house. And this ball.
Happy hour with the fam and a fire.
Macy, cruisin’.
Sunlit clouds.
Love my folks!
Cholula photo-bombed my lupine shot. I like it.
I’ve always said that living in Durango is like living in a postcard.
Happy me.
Walking the dog underneath sun-kissed cottonwood trees.
I asked Liz’s daughter to braid my hair. She made me into a lilac princess.
Braiding my hair, singing along to Neil Young, sitting next to a dog. Road trip!
This tiny pink shoe was in our locked mailbox. I’m pretty sure it’s a sign.
Our yard exploded with flowers and growth while we were away!
I’d forgotten that the special tree we planted together was so lovely.
The back hill is carpeted with wildflowers.
I wore a new dress to make a visit to the doctor more fun.
And I totally kept the cozy little hospital socks!
Grandma sent Cholula home with the teeny toy she semi-destroyed.
The view from the porch went from snowy white to vibrant green.
You know. Just the usual bliss.
**Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@mrshowiepc) for daily bliss-y bits!**
Sausage-potato hash n’ eggs.
Do you eat breakfast?
Whenever I stay at my folks’ house in Durango (like now), there are tons of breakfast options. My mom just reminded me that eating something in the morning kick-starts your metabolism for the day. The trouble is, I’m not hungry first thing. Once upon a time, I couldn’t face high school without a big bowl of cereal in my belly. Somewhere along the line, my need for food first thing in the morning was replaced by my need for coffee. I do love to go out for brunch, but rarely make breakfast at home. I’ve been trying to change that recently- first with a tasty veggie scramble, and then with this: Sausage-Potato Hash n’ Eggs.
One morning, in my barely caffeinated state, it made sense to just WING IT in the kitchen. I had a loose idea involving cheesy hashbrowns and some veggies mingling together with spicy sausage and topped with a fried egg. We’ll forget that I’d never fried an egg before this until later- let’s start with the HASH.
First, I got some sausage working in a pan on the stove. I broke it up with a wooden spatula and let it get nice and browned.
While the sausage filled the kitchen with the aroma of breakfast-y goodness, I chopped up some beautiful, bright veggies: zucchini, red onion, an orange bell pepper, jalapeno, and cherry tomatoes. I love a cutting board full of RAINBOW.
I removed the sausage from the pan and tossed in the veggies. I seasoned them up with the usual suspects (garlic salt, Mexican seasonings, crushed red pepper) and sautéed them for just a bit before adding shredded potatoes.
The hashbrowns had some time to meet the veggies before the sausage joined the party. I let the whole mess cook on the stove for a little while before popping the pan into the oven to brown up.
I’d just finished setting our breakfast table when I realized I had no idea how to fry an egg. I pulled up a “how-to” on my iPhone, heated up my cast iron skillet, and crossed my fingers. I think they look pretty darn good, don’t you?
The last touch to the sausage-potato hash was a generous sprinkling of cheese. Once the cheese had melted, it was time to eat!
I served the hash topped with the fresh tomatoes and a sprinkling of cilantro. There was a fair amount of heat from the spicy sausage, the crushed red pepper, and the jalapeno, but we like it hot.
It was a far cry from a bowl of cereal. It didn’t take long before John’s plate was empty, except the fruit. No surprise there, right? Not a bad way to start the day!
Maybe YOUR day should start this way tomorrow.
Are you a breakfast junkie? What’s your favorite breakfast food?
Soup season.
Truth: Soup season is OVER.
I crave a steaming bowl of soup when there’s a chill in the air. A pot of soup bubbling on the stove goes with with a fire in the fireplace and slippers on my feet. Those days are gone now, (at least until September). With sun on my skin and bare feet, it’s been all about the grill lately- which is why it took me a week to get around to trying a new recipe I tore out of Cooking Light. A recipe for SOUP.
Something about the Chicken Noodle Bowl seemed fresh and light. This wasn’t stick-to-your-ribs kind of soup. It sounded warm weather-appropriate. Last week, we gave the grill a break. I added more veggies to the pile of ingredients called for in the recipe and dove right in!
First, I got some brown rice spaghetti noodles going on the stove. Next, I chopped up garlic, ginger, red onion, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, sugar snap peas, and two kinds of mushrooms. Ginger makes any recipe taste fresh, doesn’t it? Yum!
Next, I drained the pasta and set it aside. I chopped up one big chicken breast, seasoned it with some garlic salt, and browned it in a little olive oil on the stove. The late afternoon light made the trees glow.
The chicken came out and half of the onion went in, along with MANY shakes of crushed red pepper. After a couple of minutes, I added half of the ginger and garlic and let it all soak up some of the chicken flavor in the pan.
It was time to add some liquids and make this a soup! First came some chicken stock, then some water. On a whim, I poured in the rest of my glass of wine. I scraped the browned bits of yummy off of the bottom of the pan, put a lid on it, and let it simmer away for 15 minutes or so.
I poured some sesame oil in a small soup pot and let it warm up. Do you cook with sesame oil? It’s got a serious nutty flavor that goes well in Asian cooking. I added the rest of the onion, the bell peppers, and the mushrooms and sautéed them for awhile (seasoning with garlic salt). Once the mushrooms had softened and cooked down a tad, I added the rest of the garlic and ginger. Between the stock on the stove and the veggies sautéing away, the kitchen smelled heavenly!
I chopped up some green onion and set it aside. It was time to add the liquids to the veggies, so I placed a strainer over the soup pot and poured it right in.
Just a few more additions! A tablespoon of sugar, a tablespoon of soy sauce, and the chicken. Right before serving time, I stirred in the sugar snap peas and some of the green onions. I didn’t let them cook too long so they’d keep some of their CRUNCH.
To serve, I placed some noodles in the bottom of the bowls and ladled the soup right over them. Some green onion for garnish, a shake of sesame seeds- SOUP’S ON!
For a brothy soup, the Asian Chicken Noodle Bowl is super filling. The extra veggies added texture and tasted fresh, brightened up by the ginger-garlic flavor. I swirled some Sriracha sauce into my bowl for even more heat. Scrumptious! John’s the one who said that we should eat this soup all year long- it was light enough for a summer day.
And that’s a good thing. Because the big sun is here to stay- and there are plenty of leftovers. Maybe soup season ISN’T over, after all.
Asian Chicken Noodle Bowl (adapted slightly from Cooking Light)
You’ll need:
- 5 ounces skinny pasta (spaghetti or linguine)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 ½ cups sliced mushrooms (I used Italian brown and shiitake)
- ¼ cup sliced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup sliced yellow bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¾ cup sugar snap peas, cut diagonally in half
- 3 green onions, chopped
- Garlic salt to taste
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Cook pasta according to package directions. Set aside.
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil; swirl to coat. Add chicken and sauté until browned. Remove and set aside.
Return pan to medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add half of the onion, then half of the ginger and half of the garlic. Add crushed red pepper and a little garlic salt. Cook for a few minutes, then add the chicken stock, water, and wine. Bring to a boil, scraping the pan for the browned bits. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Heat sesame oil in a small soup pot over medium high heat. Add remaining onion, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Sauté for five minutes. Add remaining ginger and garlic, and sauté for a couple of minutes. Through a strainer placed on the soup pot, pour the liquid over the veggies. Discard the solids in the strainer. Add the chicken, soy sauce, and sugar to the soup. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Stir in sugar snap peas and most of the green onion. Cook for 3 minutes. To serve, place pasta noodles in a bowl and ladle soup over them. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve any time of year. It’s always soup season. YUM!
**Check out the FOOD BLISS link above for all of my culinary adventures (and a list of recipes)!**
Wild and wind blown.
Does it seem like I’m always on the go? Sometimes it feels that way to me. As much as I love HOME, I have a bit of a restless spirit. And guess what? I’m off to ramble a little more.
I’m Colorado-bound again! Cholula will sit shotgun. John’s meeting us there for some time with family, friends, and fun in the San Juan Mountains. This time of year is basically perfect in Durango. Yahoo!!
I’ll be checking in every couple of days, instead of my usual radio-silence. If you’ve got the itch to wander like I do this time of year, click on the Travel Bug link above. It’s got something like 40 links to the different adventures we’ve enjoyed over the last handful of years. Even if you can’t hit the road today, you can escape for a while… and, hopefully, be inspired for YOUR next trip!
Follow me on Instagram (@mrshowiepc) for bits of the trip along the way (#COroadtripbliss). Have a bliss-y week!
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” – Ernest Hemingway
Bliss bits 5/15.
It’s BLISS BITS Wednesday!
The hardest part of today? Choosing which happy photos from this week to share with you. I’m feeling particularly blissful lately! There is so much to be grateful for in every little thing. Take a peek at some of my itty bitty joys.
Puppy snuzzles never get old.
Wisdom in a magazine ad.
Love.
The squirrels have returned to the yard- and are torturing Cholula.
A portrait of John on skis by his nephew. Sweet hair!
Fabulous art arrived!
There are a lot of hikes happening these days.
Watching a storm roll in.
Oven fries are perfect with grilled burgers!
I’ve been loving this purple bloom on the patio table.
An almost-engaged me and a teeny Cholula!
Big sky.
Vitamins, Chinese herbs, and supplements.
Crazy pink clouds on date night.
I had a LOT of fun with the new photo-edit app from A Beautiful Mess!
You can do all sorts of fun things with the app. I might be addicted.
A private moment with her beloved tennis ball.
Fluffy cloud view from the porch.
She’s smarter than we think.
Sunset dining.
Backyard beast.
We visited Cholula’s favorite pond for the first time this year!
She did a lot of this:
And some evidence that we MAY be responsible for spoiling our dog from the start:
I pulled this beautiful image from Pinterest. Live in the sunshine.
You know. Just the usual bliss.
**Follow me on Instagram (@mrshowiepc) for more bliss-y bits!**
Al fresco everything.
When I woke up on Sunday, spring was here.
Not a teaser spring day with a snowstorm brewing. For real this time. Full of light, throw open the windows, bare feet in the grass- THAT kind of spring. It took longer to reach Park City than we were used to when we lived in Salt Lake. That might be why it felt like unwrapping a gift as I walked around our yard, greeting each happy plant and squinting a smile at the morning sun.
John made a scrumptious breakfast for us (new title: Hashbrown Champion). With his new job in full swing, we have started to truly cherish weekends again- a couple of big, wide open days together in a row. And this weekend? The theme was AL FRESCO. Whatever we were doing, we wanted to do it outside.
We lingered at the table on the back deck after breakfast, savoring the feeling of dining outdoors. With weather like this, our day was centered around the yard and garden. A trip to Home Depot for patio storage and tree-trimmers (I snagged myself a hummingbird feeder!). A drop-in at the local nursery to scope out front deck herb garden containers. Building patio furniture while Cholula napped offered moral support.
By the time dinner rolled around, we scrapped the Thai noodle bowl recipe I was going to try in favor of something- anything- on the grill. In honor of Mother’s Day, John made a delicious batch of Peep’s grilled chicken sandwiches. The sun melted into a watercolor painting in the sky. We filled and lit two gorgeous hurricane lamps that were a wedding gift from John’s Aunt BoBo, opened a nice bottle of wine, and clinked glasses to amazing mothers. There was a slight chill in the air after the sun went behind the hill, but just pulled on sweatshirts and dined by candlelight.
The best part?
When I woke up on Monday, spring was still here.
Fabulous.
Friday was…well, it was pretty fabulous.
John was out and about all morning with meetings. I was working at my desk, sipping beloved coffee in my pajamas, when I realized that something was missing: the usual toy-centric nudge from Cholula’s nose every few minutes. As any parent (dog or human) knows, silence is not good. I checked her favorite nap locations- the front porch, under the bed- and finally found her in our bathroom, doing this:
She was frozen in place.
Upon further investigation, I discovered the source of her focus.
This chubby little ground squirrel was pretty brave. After a solid 40-minute staring contest with Cholula, he inched closer. My tortured dog just stared, crooked ears on point (well, one of them), and watched.
I felt sorry for my patient companion, so Cholula and I headed out the front door to embark on my first “loop” of the season. The Loop starts and ends at our house, and is part neighborhood stroll, part hiking trail workout. I paused to admire the plants in our yard that have exploded back to life. Dear springtime: I love you.
We headed down the street, Cholula leading the way. The weather in Park City has been STELLAR. The sky on Friday was a deep blue, with just a few fat clouds floating in it. The neighborhood golf course has greened up beautifully, and the creek that flows through it is full. The mountains in the distance still have a sprinkling of snow on their peaks. Gorgeous.
As we reached the end of the street, we made a hard right onto the trail that leads to a popular biking route called Flying Dog. The trail runs parallel to the road for a few minutes, then switch-backs up the hill. I love it because it’s a steady incline, all the way home.
Despite the bluebird day and the gathering of cars at the trailhead, we were only passed by one mountain biker. The trail was ours. The sun was unexpectedly hot, so I welcomed the chances to pause for photos of elk prints or wildflowers. A giant cloud blocked the sun’s heat for some of the hike.
The higher we climbed, the better the views got. A glance to my right showed off the snowy tops of of Mt. Eyre, Summit Park Peak, and Murdock Peak. Looking ahead, I spied the still-white ski runs of Deer Valley and Park City Resort.
The hillside was carpeted by fresh, new grasses and gray-green sage. Yellow and blue flowers dotted either side of the trail. I made a mental note to check my “Wildflowers of Utah” book when I got home.
I attempted another Mama-doggie photo shoot. I failed another Mama-doggie photo shoot.
Once the trail starts to even out, I know we’re almost home. Cholula was heading down the hill before I realized we were there.
Heading off-trail toward our house is harder than it looks- the top of the hill is pretty steep. But there’s a recognizable trail, left by the big herd of elk who frequent the hillside, so I zig-zagged my way down it.
The first Loop of the year: perfect.
Later, I spent a heavenly chunk of time on the front porch with a glass of wine and a book.
John was just finishing up his work day, and we decided to move happy hour to the backyard. I set up shop on the chaise, watching significant thunderclouds move in.
It was right about the time John opened the back door to join me that the fat raindrops splashed on my cheeks. Poor guy. We sat inside, watching the storm, before heading into SLC for a fun little date night.
Our first stop was the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, where a friend of mine from college was showing some of his photography. The UMOCA is cool. You can enjoy a local beer or a glass of wine before enjoying all kinds of interesting art. Jim’s photos were stunning (John’s in front of one of them), and we caught a hug from him before heading out to eat.
The early evening light was kind of magical. The sunset reflected off of the leftover storm clouds, casting a pinkish hue over the city- we even spied a mini-rainbow outside of Pallet.
The vibe in Pallet is cozy, urban, industrial- brick walls and exposed lightbulbs are juxtaposed by homey touches like a velvety couch and plenty of candlelight.
We thoroughly enjoyed a scrumptious meal and a delicious bottle of wine while the last bits of daylight disappeared outside. I love the time of year when the days are long and dinnertime is late.
After some kind of oatmeal walnut miracle, our check was delivered in a vintage book (1904!). We sipped our last gulps of wine and coffee before heading back up the hill.
I make a point of being grateful- for little things or big. But really- what a lovely day. Days like Friday make me feel extraordinarily lucky.
Life is good.
I’ll never be like her. Oh, wait…
“You’re JUST like your mother.”
Don’t you feel like you’ve heard that line on TV or in movies a lot? It’s usually meant as a rolling-eyes insult of some kind, from a husband to a wife- and prompts steam to come out of the wife’s ears. The mother-daughter relationship is tricky. I’d bet that most women grow up thinking, “I’ll never be like her.” And then, one day, they’ll say or do something and stop short, realizing the inevitable has happened.
My mom grew up with two older brothers, which explains why she’s tough as nails. I never questioned the fact that if someone crossed me, she’d hunt them down- she told me as much. It took a long time and some adult years of my own under my belt to realize she’s really just a big softie (I’m onto you, Mom) with a fierce love for her kids. When we’re together, our family moves as a pack- a somewhat overwhelming freight train of games and laughter and food and drink and love. And, whether we realize it or not, my mom is responsible for it all. She’s absolutely the GLUE.
I always say I take after my Dad. It’s true- we’re alike in a lot of ways. But the truth is, I’m a lot like my mother, too. Last year, this is what I said on Mother’s Day: “We haven’t always gotten along. We had the typical torturous mother-daughter love/hate period in my early teens. I’m becoming more like her as I get older. If you told me that at 15, I would have thrown something at you, but I know now that I’ll be lucky to stay that course.” We were never mother-daughter buddies. She wasn’t my best friend- she was my MOM. I thought she was way too strict. EVERYTHING had to be a life lesson. She was always involved, whether it was as my girl scouts co-leader or driving a load of giggling girls to cheerleading camp. As an adult, I realize how lucky I was to have a loving, present mom.
There are so many parts of me that come from my mom, like my love for homey-camping and secret desire to have a farm full of animals (Dad is laughing). Here are a few things I’ve learned from my mom over the years.
Think of others before yourself. My mom is the ultimate hostess, the self-sacrificing mother, the endlessly supportive wife. She taught me through her actions that empathy for others is invaluable- to them, but also to ourselves.
Family is the most important thing. We are a family of traditions and memories and nostalgia. It’s torturous for my mom that her kids don’t live next door. Or in her guest room. And I’m not kidding: don’t hurt me. She’ll find you.
Fresh flowers are necessary. Whether it’s on her countertop at home or on her picnic table at a campsite, my mom is big on fresh cut flowers. Now I find myself always having colorful blooms in my own home, and the first thing I do at a new campsite is fill a tiny vase with wildflowers. Flowers feel like HOME to me.
Bring a camera with you. Everywhere. I take a lot of pictures. (Captain Obvious strikes again.) I keep a point-and-shoot camera in my purse. I’m the one people roll their eyes at when the camera comes out- and then thank later for documenting the event. My mom ALWAYS has a camera in my face- even before coffee- and because of that, we’ll have lots of memories to enjoy in years to come.
Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be happy. We aren’t the Brady Bunch. Things break. Wine gets spilled. Rolls get burned on holidays. Dads back into classic Porsches in the driveway with a dualie truck. Wedding rings end up in the concrete driveway while it’s being poured. We get frustrated with each other, but we never stop loving each other. And we have a lot of really good stories.
Wherever you are, make friends. My mom will literally walk up and start talking to anyone. In the time it might take me to go to the restroom, she’ll be talking to the couple at the next table about deer in her garden or something. More often than not, her kindness will result in a recommendation on what to order or the discovery of a mutual friend or an offer of season tickets to a Broncos game. Her confidence is inspiring, and the world is way too small not to be friendly.
Get dirty. Be silly. The best times are the ones when you have dirt on your face or smell like fish or make a fool of yourself playing charades after one glass of wine too many. Life should be FUN, which generally means the opposite of tidy.
I think the best thing about my mom is that in my 38 years of life, she’s never made me feel anything but capable, intelligent, and cherished. She’s absolutely my biggest cheerleader. I know I’m a bit of a mess, but to my mom, that mess is perfect. As John and I enter what we hope will be the parenthood part of our lives, I can already tell you what kind of mom I’ll be. I’ll be too strict. I’ll try hard to use experiences to teach my kids what kind of people to be. I’ll be involved in every activity, whatever they are. And if my kids don’t like it, I’ll just blame it all on Grandma.
One thing I know is that my kids will never, ever question their worth. They will know that they are loved.
In that way, I will be proud to be JUST like my mother.
Happy Mother’s Day to my Mama, and all of the Mamas out there!
Pulled Pork Carnitas Tacos with Spicy Slaw.
Growing up in Southern California means my love for Mexican food is a given.
We lived in an area near groves of avocado trees, with stands by the side of the road selling them cheap. My mom would make simple, delish guacamole (that we kids wouldn’t eat- it was green and weird!). Chips and salsa graced every happy hour display, and remains one of my favorite snacks. Our babysitter and dear friend made tamales from scratch in big batches that filled our freezer. We drove across town to a restaurant called Dario’s fairly often for dinner, where I was a tamale or enchilada kind of girl. As I got older and braver, I started exploring new flavors on Mexican menus. Rich mole sauces. Cheesy stuffed rellenos. Chile verde. And a true favorite: pork carnitas.
In Spanish, “carne” means meat, and adding the “-ita” makes it little. LITTLE MEATS. How cute is that? Carnitas are a juicy, tender hunk of fall-apart pork. At a restaurant, it’s generally served on a plate with tortillas, pico de gallo, guacamole, maybe some rice and beans on the side. It shreds easily, and part of the fun is scooping your preferred accompaniments into a tortilla and constructing the perfect carnitas taco. It’s pretty likely that when John and I go out for Mexican food, ONE of us is going to order carnitas. Positively scrumptious.
I came across a recipe for carnitas right before I left for my weeklong California Adventure. Yum! I’d make a big batch of carnitas, make tasty tacos for our dinner, and pop the leftovers in the fridge for my temporary bachelor. (I didn’t realize at the time that it would be ALL he ate for a week, but whatever.) I was surprised at how few ingredients were needed- just the meat, some citrus, some seasonings, and onion.
I’d asked the butcher to cut the pork butt into chunks for me- the hard part was done for me! I heated up the oven and quartered the onion. The meat and the onion went into an oven-safe pot on the stove.
Next, I squeezed in the juice from an orange into the pot and tossed the peels right in, too. Some fresh lime juice followed, and then some water- enough to just about cover the meat. This was TOO EASY.
I tossed in a couple of bay leaves, and then some generous spoonfuls of cumin and oregano. I added a few shakes of crushed red pepper for heat, and some salt and black pepper. Guys, THAT’S IT.
Once all of the ingredients were in the pot, I turned on the heat to medium-high brought it to a simmer. Then I put the lid on the pot and transferred the whole shebang to the oven, where some magic happened for about two hours.
While the pot was in the oven, I started working on a spicy slaw to go in the tacos. I kept it pretty simple, using bagged coleslaw.
Equal parts mayo and sour cream, lots of spicy seasonings like chili powder, a little bit of lime juice, and plenty of Cholula. You know how we feel about Cholula around here!
After a couple of hours, it was time for the next step in the carnitas process. I brought the pot out of the oven and removed all of the meat with a slotted spoon, placing it on a baking sheet lined with tin foil.
Next, I removed the onion, oranges, and bay leaves from the pot. They’d done their duty. Only the juices remained. I boiled the juices on high heat while I took a fork and knife and gently pulled the chunks of carnitas apart- not fully shredding them, but creating smaller chunks. According to Cholula’s face, so far, so good.
The semi-shredded meat went back into the pot of juices, which had reduced into a thicker sauce. I stirred it all together into a juicy, meaty mess, then poured it all back onto the baking sheet. It went into the oven and broiled for a few minutes, getting crispy and browned. Cue drool.
While the carnitas were browning, I added the spicy sauce to the slaw and prepped some taco toppings- fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and big slices of creamy avocado.
When the carnitas were crispy-ish, I took them out of the oven. We made our tacos nice and fat, and served them alongside some tasty rice from the local Mexican market. Gorgeous!
The carnitas were beyond tender, and very juicy- but the little crunch from the crispy parts were the best. This recipe would be ideal to make for a big get together- a summertime carnitas party (margaritas required)! I’m not sure how John ate his carnitas leftovers, but it couldn’t have been better than in these tacos. I left for my trip the next morning, and I’m jealous that he got to eat them more than once.
I wonder how soon is too soon to make them again…
Pulled Pork Carnitas (from Barefeet in the Kitchen)
You’ll need:
- 4 lbs boneless pork shoulder or butt, trimmed and cut into 2 inch cubes
- 1 onion, ends cut off, peeled and halved
- Juice of one orange (save the halves)
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 generous teaspoon cumin (I probably used closer to a tablespoon)
- 1 generous teaspoon dried oregano
- Crushed red pepper to taste
Adjust rack to the lower middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine all of the ingredients (including orange halves) in an oven-safe pot with a lid. Bring the pot to a simmer over medium high heat, then move the pot to the oven and cook for two or more hours.
Remove the pot from the oven and switch the oven to broil. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the meat from the pot and set on a baking sheet lined with foil. Remove and discard everything else in the pot, leaving only the liquid. Place the pot over high heat for 10-20 minutes. Boil until the liquid reduces and becomes syrupy, leaving about a cup of liquid in the pot.
While the liquid is reducing, use a pair of forks to gently pull each piece of pork apart into a few pieces. Once the liquid has reduced, place the pork back into the pot and gently mix the pork and juice together.
Transfer the coated pork back onto the baking sheet in one layer. Broil the meat in the oven for 6-8 minutes until it is browned and crispy. Serve immediately.
Spicy Slaw
You’ll need:
- 2 cups bagged coleslaw
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- Tablespoon of Cholula
- Teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin
- Juice of one lime
- Garlic salt to taste
Combine all ingredients besides the slaw in a bowl; taste to adjust seasonings. Pour over the coleslaw and mix well. Serve inside the amazing carnitas tacos (or any taco). YUM!
**Check out the FOOD BLISS link above for more of my culinary adventures (and a list of recipes)!**
