Lost In The Backyard

Just Trying To Get Home!

(Scroll down to "The Playlist" and hit play before reading... works better that way!)

Sometimes it's nice to just kick back on the porch and do a little reminiscing. You know, just think about... well, not a whole lot actually. 

As Lyle Lovett says- "This old porch is just a long time of waiting and forgetting... and remembering the coming back and not crying about the leaving." Always loved that. 

Pull up a chair and have a couple of Superitas, some Carnitas, sit back and enjoy the day. 

Just don't go wandering off... you may get "lost in the backyard". 

The pots are on!

The Plate... 

BBQ Pork Carnitas

Carnitas are the perfect thing for hanging out on the porch. 'Cause while you're trying to remember what it was the you were trying to forget in the first place... things can get confusing. 

We'll make this easy for you. Plus, you gotta love a easy dish that you slow cook. Kind of like getting a little break after the prep work so you have time for that Superita. And you know anything good takes time.

What you need... 

2 lbs of pork tenderloin / chopped into small chunks

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

Smoked paprika

Flour (enough for dredging)

4 tbsp vegetable oil

2 onions / chopped

2 red bell peppers / chopped

4 stalks of celery / chopped

4 gloves of garlic / sliced

1 bottle of Mexican beer (hey it is Tex-Mex)

15 oz can of fire roasted tomatoes

2 chipotle peppers / chopped, plus 1 tbsp of the Adobo sauce

2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup cilantro / chopped

Tortillas 

Lime wedges

What you do... 

Season the pork with salt, pepper and paprika.

Then dredge in the flour and set aside.

Heat a dutch oven with 3 tbsp of the vegetable oil.

Add the pork and brown on all sides.

Remove the pork reduce the heat and add the extra oil.

Add the onion, peppers, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper.

Cover and sweat for about 8-10 minutes.

Uncover and stir for 2 minutes then deglaze the pot with the beer. 

Let the liquid reduce for a couple minutes.

Then add the tomatoes, chipotle and adobo sauce, thyme and cilantro. 

Add the pork back to the pot and simmer over medium-low heat for another 5 minutes.

Heat your tortillas up in a pan, load them up with your pork mixture (carnitas).

Garnish with a little lime wedge (could come in handy with your Superita or beer).

The Playlist... 

Lost In The Backyard

A collection of some Alternative Country Blues for you to hang out on the porch... or wherever. 

Again, we are mixing it up with some old school, some new folks and even threw in a soundtrack for you. Love the song "Weary Kind" from the movie Crazy Heart. Ryan Bingham does a great job on just about everything he does. 

Check out the new kids on the block; Jason Isbell's "Different Days" will get you to thinking, while Lucero's "Drink till We're Gone", will just make you want another Superita. 

There's a lot of great stuff here, just don't end up like James McMurtry and get lost in the backyard. 

The "Playlist" runs on Spotify- Click on the link to listen to Lost In The Backyard.

The Bar... 

Superita

Awesome featured cocktail from Chef Ford Fry at his new "Mex-Tex" restaurant... Superica.
A cocktail that's strong, salty and sweet... perfect!

What you need...

2 oz Herradura Double Reposado
1 oz Combier
3/4 oz Lime juice
1/2 oz Orange juice
Dash of brine from olive jar
Citrus marinated olives

What you need...

Pour in to a martini shaker with ice.
Strain in to glass.
Serve straight up in Martini glass.


*To make citrus-marinated olives: Drain olive brine from olive jar and reserve for drink use. Zest two lemons, two limes and two oranges, then juice. Marinate olives in a mixture of the lemon, lime and orange juices with a little water and the citrus zest.

I must have got lost in the backyard...

When I went out to play.

Please... Day Drink Responsibly 

& 

Keep On Cookin'!