Fantastic Carnitas...

After being sick for more than a week I woke up the other day feeling like a million bucks! I walked for a mile and on my way home I stopped by the market to pick up a few ingredients for carnitas... I started out with some cheap pork;

Onion, Lime, Serrano Chiles, & Tomatillos...

Tomatillos are the strangest vegetables to me, they have an ugly paper skin, yet when you peel it off and wash them, you get the most beautiful citusy little green tomato thing underneath...

I boiled them till they were nice and soft...

Then tossed them in the blender for a sour puree...

To cut down on the heat I split and seeded the serrano chiles...

Once the puree was cooled I added diced onion, the chiles, and some fresh lime juice...

I dumped it all in the crock pot over the pork and 8 hours later I had a pot full of heaven...

somehow in my mad gobbling I missed the finished shot, you will have to trust me that the pork was amazingly fantastic...

New Years!

So Shane had a big get together at his place for New Years Eve... Much food, booze and fun was had by all... I made Asian Little Smokies with stir fry sauce and fresh pineapple chunks... needless to say they were awesome! It was great being around so many good friends for the turn of the new year!

because we were all drinking Shane had most of us spend the night... due to lack of space; James and I ended up to be the people under the stairs... I was comfy and slept like a log...

Happy 2010 my friends... here's to this year being better than last!

2009

I am so behind in my blogging but work has been hectic and I have been sick ;-(

Nicole inspired me to create a year in review video - such a cool idea! When you look back on it this year has been truly amazing and really a lot of fun... here are some highlights...

Christmas...

I have to say that I had a GREAT Christmas this year... Christmas eve I went to Doug's parents and had a lovely dinner with the family, then I stopped by Shane's to see the boys before candlelight service at church... a very complete day celebrating our Saviour's birth...

Christmas morning I went over to Lisa's to find her and Doug in their jammies 25 min before everyone arrived for breakfast...

I jumped right in and started to help cooking...

I have to say when my sister and I man a kitchen, things happen!

Everyone arrived and they looked mean and hungry... hahaha

I fried up the latkes nice a crispy...

Lisa tested one and approved!

We sat down to a feast of latkes with apple sauce, sour cream, biscuits and gravy, orange juice, coffee and tea...

After everyone was full we started opening presents... Lisa got Dad & Doug's parents a huge wedding picture - it was beautiful... and all were happy with them...

Laurie and Rich are such a great addition to our family... I really love them around...

Doug and Lisa went overboard with gifts for each other, as they should I guess, after all it it their first Christmas married to each other...

I made my Pop a book of pictures from snapfish.com and he was overjoyed... hahaha he also liked his snuggie - I got a red one to match mine...

Dad got us kids our own season tickets to the Pantages Theater... OMGoodness it must have cost him a small fortune but we were so greatful! Finally no fighting over who gets to go to the shows downtown... now we can all go together - ugg I love the theater!

It was such a great day... everyone was happy and loving... my little sister actually gave me a hug and said she loves me... she never does and that, ever, and it was so nice :...-(

Merry Christmas everyone!

Shuffle...

Sunday after church I went to play cards with James and Caitlin... I don't know how to shuffle... I just don't... please don't judge me by my shortcomings... ;-)

Christmas Party...

So James and Justin had a super fun Christmas Party over the weekend... I was so glad to be back in town and hanging with my friends... we all got pretty buzzed and had a really great time.

Towards the end of the night Justin started playing DJ on his AppleTV and horrible singing and dancing ensued...

Some people cuddled up with their angel and took a nap...

fun times...

Amarillo by Morning...

So I spent last week in lovely Amarillo, Texas. Being winter time the high each day was about 40 degrees - so cold! I stayed in my favorite hotel there - The Courtyard... it's centrally located in town and close to lots of good restaurants... and boy did I eat when I was there... among many rib plates and biscuit and gravy breakfasts I had an amazing steak dinner at the Country Barn, appropriately garnished with fried okra and hand battered onion rings and a buttery yeast roll...

I made more than one stop to my favorite Whataburger for a bacon cheese Whataburger with mayo both sides and jalapenos.... just wonderful...

I even stopped at Long John Silvers (haven't been in probably 5 years) - got the anniversary platter with a side of fried lobster bites...

needless to say between Amarillo and Houston I have put on 7 chunky pounds... not good... I need to get back into the gym routine and eating like a normal person...