This week plans

We don't usually plan out our meals so far in advance but today before i went to the store, we decided to make some stuff this week.  I got some pork tenderloin and chicken wings because Charlie is making Bahn Mi sandwiches today and his Korean Chicken wings in a few days.  i got some Boston Butt to make Carnitas tomorrow.  We will use that in tacos and Cassie is going to make chili rellenos.  I'll roast, skin and seed the poblanos in a day or two. I also got some stuff to make a pecan pie.

All the recipes except the pecan pie have already been posted, I think.  Maybe not the Carnitas...  Here is the Carnitas, and the pecan pie  recipes.

Tacos de carnitas

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Yield: 12 servings

Packaged tortillas are fine, but even better are freshly made corn tortillas found in some supermarkets or Latino markets.

4 1/2 pounds pork butt

6 cups water

1 1/2 onions, diced

7 strips orange zest

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/2 cinnamon sticks

1 1/2 teaspoons oregano leaves, crushed

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more to taste

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

24 small corn tortillas, warmed

Finely chopped green onions, chopped cilantro, salsa or hot sauce

1. Chop thick fat from the outside of the pork butt. Cut meat into 1-inch cubes. Discard any cubes that are pure fat. Combine pork with the 6 cups water, onions, orange zest, garlic, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, cinnamon, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt and cloves in a large pot. Heat to a boil; reduce heat to a simmer. Skim any scum that forms on the surface. Simmer until meat is very soft and falling apart, adding more water if necessary to keep the meat submerged, about 1 1/2 hours.

2. Season with salt. Heat to a gentle boil; cook until the water has evaporated, about 30 minutes. Cook a little longer to fry the meat slightly, watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove bay leaves and cinnamon sticks. Place meat in a fine strainer; push gently with a wooden spoon to remove any excess fat. Discard the fat; pull meat apart with forks, if necessary. Fold a few tablespoons of carnitas inside each tortilla; top each with cilantro, onion and salsa.

add sliced radish

And the Pean Pie

DEAR ABBY SOUTHERN PECAN PIE  Makes one deep dish or 2 regular pies

9 inch unbaked pie crust(s)          

1 C. LIGHT CORN SYRUP

1 C. Dk. Brown SUGAR,firmly packed

1/3 C. MELTED BUTTER

 1 Heaping Cup pecan halves

 3 WHOLE EGGS, BEATEN

1 t. VANILLA

1/3 t. SALT

Pre heat oven to 350º

Mix, pour into pie shell and bake 45- 50 minutes. Cool, top with whipped or ice cream or serve plain. If using an electric stove and 15-20 minutes to baking time or cook until toothpick test is clean. (A.N.M. note: after removing from the oven and before it is cooled, drizzle the top of the pie with maple syrup.