Brushing toddler’s teeth really ought to be given an honorary-Olympic-event title. I’m not saying it should BE an Olympic event, because no sane person with children really wants to relive those kind of memories. Brushing kid’s teeth is not just about prying their mouth open. Round these parts it starts with a warm up chase, then a tackle, then what I like to call the Death Grip, in which one must use both legs, arms, and elbows to straddle and secure all toddler appendages. I personally prefer the Cross-Chest-Forearm-Pin. Then, by the time you have prodded them enough to get them to open their mouth, they are mad, and start to scream at you with real tears. And that’s the easy part. Brushing a crying kids mouth is easy. You can get way in there. The other day I went through this ordeal with Truman, and when I finally freed him, he immediately bent down, scooped a tortilla chip off the ground, and ate it. Toddler: 1 Mom: 0. First, carne guisada, cooked low and slow, magically turns a cheap cut of beef into super tender, fall apart meat. Its connective tissues are actually an asset, because the low slow heat breaks them down and makes the meat so soft and delectable. Second, carne guisada is deceptively simple. You might already have ALL the other ingredients at your house! Tomato sauce, onion, cumin, beef bouillon, garlic powder, and a little salt and pepper–we’re not talking fancy or expensive ingredients. This short list is all you need. Third, carne guisada has amazing flavor. AND smell. If you make carne guisada your house is going to fill with the aroma of perfectly seasoned beef and onions. If you open the window the neighbors might come running. This isn’t an apology, I just helped you make new friends!
What is the origin of carne guisada?
Carne guisada originated in Puerto Rico and spread to Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. It’s a simple way to get tender, juicy beef from a cheap, widely available cut. The original recipe is simmered on the stovetop for a few hours. It’s really low maintenance, but you do have to be home to babysit it a little. I figured out a way to do it in the crockpot; all you have to do is omit most of the water called for. Here’s a quick overview of how to make this recipe on the stovetop and on the crockpot. Full instructions can be found in the recipe card below! On the stovetop: In the crockpot: Do note that this is a recipe for Carne Guisada, which directly translated means “Stewed Beef.” It’s not meant to be shredded. It is bitesize pieces of meat in a thick gravy. If you make this in the crock pot, make sure you don’t accidentally break up the meat too much by over-stirring. To serve this authentically, put the meat, some rice, cheese, and guacamole in a warm flour tortilla, with these beans on the side. This is my favorite way to eat it, but I also think it would be amazing in burrito bowls, enchiladas, topping a huge salad, in a quesadilla…or just solo with a fork. My sister Laura made this for my whole family over Christmas. We were staying in a hostel near San Francisco with a community kitchen. One of the staff members followed his nose to the kitchen and asked if we were making Carne Guisada. “Are you guys from Texas?” he said. I was pretty amazed that he could identify what we were making (and that we must be Texan) just from the smell. We all went on a short hike that afternoon, and promised him some of the goods if he would tend the pot for us while we were away. I think he was pretty stoked. Here are some of my favorite recipes for serving with carne guisada! Traditional Tejano Pinto Beans « these are from Adam’s Tejano grandma. They might just change the way you look at beans forever! Corn Salsa with Lime « This is such a refreshing salsa, perfect for summertime. How to Make Authentic Pico de Gallo « A must have for a Tex-Mex meal. Mexican Street Corn Dip « Pass the tortilla chips, you can’t stop with this dip! Horchata « I can drink this sweet, cinnamon infused rice drink all day long. Taqueria Style Chicken Tacos « slow cooker and stovetop versions. I LOVE these! Chile Rellenos Casserole « Dinner or breakfast, you make the call. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas « a healthy vegetarian Mexican-inspired dinner. Carne Guisada con Papas from Hispanic Kitchen Smothered Chile Colorado Burritos from Creme de la Crumb Pressure Cooker Mexican Beef from Nom Nom Paleo Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
