Shredded Pork Tacos with Spicy Slaw Recipe

I don’t know what got into me, but I made two slow cooker meals within a few days of each other. Which equals A LOT of meat. And deliciousness. I’ll save the BBQ Beef Sandwich recipe for another day, like football season.  If there is one. Here’s how I made my Shredded Pork Tacos with Spicy Slaw, adapted from PW’s recipe. 

Notes

• Makes approximately 4 large servings (16 tacos).
• I use a slow cooker.

Meat Ingredients:

• 1 pork roast (1-3 lbs…mmk that’s a wide range, but I forgot how big mine was)
• Onion slices (used however much I had on hand, about  ¼ of an onion)
• 1 can Chioptle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• Cayenne Pepper
• S&P

Slaw Ingredients:

• ½ heads Cabbage, Sliced Thin
• ½ heads Purple Cabbage, Sliced Thin
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Halved Lengthwise And Thinly Sliced
• ½ cups Whole Milk
• ½ cups Mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon White Vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
• 2 cups Cilantro Leaves, Barely Chopped
• 1 lime

Taco Ingredients

• Corn tortillas
• Queso Fresco Cheese

Cook meat.

1. Season pork with S&P and cayenne.
2. Pour ½ can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and ½ can of diced tomatoes and onions in slow cooker. Place pork on top. Pour remaining chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and tomatoes on top of pork.
3. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 hours. (I set it in the morning to be ready for dinner.)
4. Pork is ready when it easily shreds with a fork.

Make slaw.

1. Combine shredded cabbage and sliced jalapenos in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl mix milk, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, salt, and cayenne. Pour over cabbage. Toss to combine.
3. Add lime juice to taste.
4. Cover and refrigerate two hours. (I ate it right away and it was still tasty.)
5. Before serving, toss in cilantro leaves.

Assemble tacos.

1. Heat small skillet on low heat. Warm tortillas (one at a time) for about 10 seconds on each side. Or in the microwave if you're lazy.
2. Top tortilla with shredded meat, crumbled queso fresco and slaw.
3. Get your hands dirty and lick your plate and fingers clean mmMMmm J

The slaw was delicious on my BBQ Beef Sandwiches and would probably be even better on fish tacos. Yum!

CSO at Ravinia Festival

I’ve never been to Ravinia (a summer music venue in the north suburbs). But thanks to free {lawn} tickets from Doug’s firm, we went for the first time last weekend. It only took us 30 minutes to get there on a Friday night from the city and we claimed a good spot in the lawn an hour and a half before show time.

We picnicked on my mom’s our blanket in the grass with a bottle of Riesling and some pasta salad. I wish I brought more cheese and crackers though! It was a beautiful warm summer night to take in the soothing sounds of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

I love kicking off my sandals to lay on a blankie on a sunny day.

I also love that it’s BYOB J I creepily took pictures of other people’s stuff as they enjoyed the atmosphere as well. The regular concert goers don’t mess around and come with chairs, coolers and even tables!

Mia was quiet when she was supposed to be, clapped and said YAY! when everyone else did and asked for more more more music J I think it was $10 well spent (parking) for a relaxing summer evening with my little family.

Oh, we also went to a festival by our house and had to include another same-time-last-year comparison J

linked up here:

As Seen On {The CSI Project} - Shabby Chic Tea Party

Hi there! Today I’m guest posting (for the first time, hooray!) at The CSI Project (Create Something Inspiring) to share tips and tricks for planning a party. I showed you a sneak peek of the Shabby Chic 1^st Birthday Tea Party weeks ago and have yet to do a full reveal. You've been anxiously waiting, right?! Check out my post for Parties & Picnics week for more details!

If you’re a new visitor, thanks for stopping by! I hope you stay awhile J

DIY Wedding Gift - Monogram Pillowcases

Yesterday I told you about my friends’ wedding. And as you should know by now, I like to include unique/personal handmade gifts with a “real” gift. Since their invite included a monogram, I made them pillowcases to match J It'd be a great bridal shower gift too (along with a sheet set), but I was in Riviera Maya and missed it!

Since I’ve had Ashlee’s Tupperware for nearly a year now, I thought it was time to give it back haha.

I ♥ when things fit in the perfect sized box J  

Chris told me that Ashlee damn near cried when she opened my gift. Haha. And that is why I like to make gifts J I whipped up the two appliqued pillowcases and two other gifts (for my godson and his brother), while catching up with a friend over a bottle of wine. Now how is that for an exciting Friday night and multitasking!? Get my DIY appliqué tutorial here.

I’d love to show you the two boy gifts as well, but I can’t post a gift before I give it! Even though their birthdays were in April. *gasp* I’m such a  bad ninang L You'll see it eventually!

linked up here and here:

Wedding Season!

Doug and I haven’t been to a wedding since our own, two years ago. Luckily, we made it to the Fourth Presbyterian Church just a few minutes before the ceremony started! After I told the cabbie, “Um no. That is not the Church. That’s Water Tower.” and quickly hustled my butt through the tourists. *eyeroll*

Now that I look at everything from a photographer’s point of view, I just. can't. stop. envisioning shots everywhere I look. And sometimes I wish I had a zoom lens (all pics taken with my 50mm f/1.4). The couple held hands the entire time and I wish I was standing right there to capture it. During the ceremony, as a classical singer, the Bride's sister sang a beautiful solo. I can only imagine how special that felt for the Bride.   

It was nice to have the reception just across the street at the Westin, with cocktail hour starting shortly after the ceremony. Before guests arrived, I poked around taking pictures of details (which I love!) until Doug could no longer handle the boredom from my ignoring him.  Here’s the reception from my eyes…

Upgrade in liquor and yummy hors d'oeuvres J

Clearly paying homage to each other's alma maters...

Even the bathroom matched the wedding/school colors!

I loved how you could see The Hancock, Water Tower, and the Church right outside the windows of the reception.

So Chicago...J

In lieu of favors, the couple donated to the American Liver Foundation.

Although super cute, the shoes came off every bridesmaid after they made it down the aisle out of the Church.
I didn't touch these - they were just asking to be photographed though, no?

There were dogs for cake toppers - a way to include Pooh since he didn't make the cut to be a ring bearer.

The food was delicious. From a poached pear salad to a well cooked steak with potatoes. The speeches were memorable, where one matron of honor mentioned how Ashlee was “her (now Chris’s) person” (think Grey’s/Meredith/Christina) and the other matron of honor said she couldn’t be more proud of her little sister for moving to Chicago and making a new life for herself. I could clearly see how proud Kylee was from how she watched her little sister on the dance floor with their dad…

It was nice to get out (just the two of us), catch up with old college friends, and get drunk enough to sing and dance to some 80s rock again J Check back tomorrow to see the personalized gift I made for the couple!

linked up here:

4th of July Recap

Hi! Did you enjoy your holiday weekend? We had beautiful summer weather and a long weekend packed with a wedding (pictures tomorrow!), Erin’s 100 day celebration, the Lakefront and Mia’s first time at the pool.

Now this is why I love being part of a Korean family...mmMMmMm kalbi...

On Monday, we went down to Diversey Harbor. Unlike the Memorial Day disaster, there was no traffic and the parking lot was empty because we went at 11am. And there was no poopy mess because Mia poops in the toilet now! Anyway, it was peaceful and quiet where Mia could walk along the steps saying wa-wa while watching all the boats on the lake, lay on a blanket in the grass eating snacks while admiring the skyline and watch all the bikes and dogs going by on the path while saying arf-arf!

We ♥ our 4^th of July tradition J

Here are some same-time-last-year comparisons...or YoY growth as two CPAs might say. *snort* 

We also took Mia to the pool for the first time (other than swimming class) and she loved it! She wasn’t scared at all and wanted to run right in, without our help. No pictures there because I am paranoid of having my camera stolen in public places!

{Erin} - 3 Months

I was going to post this next week (baby overload, I know. But Aiden, Noah and Erin were all born in March!), but I just couldn't wait! Happy early birthday Steve! I recently showed you the headbands I made for {Baby Erin’s} Getting So Big photo shoot. Here she is sporting them…

Unlike Noah who I captured mostly in his diaper, Erin went through three wardrobe (and accessory) changes. Typical of a boy and girl huh? J Can you spot the little princess in her big bed?

Baby Erin had a long day of picture taking with two hours at a Sears Portrait Studio and then another hour with me. I hope the photographs that I made are cherished even more just as much as the pictures taken at the standard studio.

One of the things that stands out most after I watched a live streaming food photography workshop led by Penny De Los Santos (a Saveur Magazine and National Geographic contributor), is how she said she makes photographs to capture the essence of all that she’s seeing and feeling. *sigh* If only it were that easy…

See you soon for Erin's 100 day celebration!


linked up here: