Shredded beef tacos --- Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

I can't be the only one on the lookout for new tacos to mix up my Taco Tuesday options. This one turned out so good and was easy. Either throw it in the Instant Pot for 35 minutes or the slow cooker option all day long and you'll have tender shredded beef tacos for dinner. I chose to go the IP route, because I love the functionality of just being able to throw everything in at the last minute. Although there is a special place in my heart (and nose) that LOVES having my food slow cooked all day long. Just serve with corn or flour tortillas.  So here it is:


Shredded Beef Tacos
3-4 lbs of stew meat
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
4 Tbsp tomato paste
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp oregano
1/2 cup either picante or green salsa*
1 cup beef broth

For Garnish
Cilantro
Green Onions
Limes
Sour cream
Guacamole
Salsa
Lettuce
*I used green because I knew it wouldn't be too spicy for the 4 little mouths I have to feed.

In bowl mix stew meat and salt. Toss to coat.
Press the Saute button on IP add olive oil
Add in onions and garlic until fragrant and softened
Add in tomato paste, cumin and oregano. Stir for about a minute
Add meat
Pour in salsa and beef broth
Cover and set to "Meat/Stew" option (remember to do so you must press the "Keep Warm/Cancel" button). Set cook time to 35 minutes.
Let pressure release naturally
Remove meat and shred.

Slow Cooker option:
Place all ingredients in IP and choose slow cook option, cook on low for 5-7 hours. If you're up for it browning the meat prior to placing in IP will add to the depth of flavor.

Instant Pot-----Whole Chicken

This recipe was super easy and tasty. I think what I loved most is that the leftover meat that we ate for lunch the next day had such a great depth of flavor. This isn't your typical, chicken, carrots and potatoes. It's a totally different spin on it. We served it with white rice, but you could use just about any starch with it. 

Instant Pot Whole Chicken

1 Whole Chicken

1/2 cup cilantro (no need to chop)

Whole head of garlic, peeled (I love garlic)

6 green onions, chopped

1 inch of ginger root (no need to peel)

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup water

Rinse your chicken, and sprinkle with salt

Turn your Instant Pot onto saute, adjust to the hottest setting

Put cilantro, 1/2 the green onions, 1/2 the garlic and the ginger root inside the chicken

Place chicken in and turn to brown on all sides

Add the remaining garlic and green onions

Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of Instant Pot

Pour the soy sauce over the top of the chicken

Close the Instant Pot

Cook on Poultry on high for 25 minutes

Enjoy!

My go to meatloaf

Growing up we never had meatloaf, my brother hated it so my mom stopped making it. I think my brother hated it because my mom didn't have my recipe.  I'm not even sure how I really stumbled upon making meatloaf, especially since I didn't have it growing up more than a handful of times. I think the recipe came to me one time I was making meatballs for our favorite crockpot wedding soup recipe. I thought I'd try it and it was a hit, so now I'll share it with you.


My go to Meatloaf
1 lb ground beef
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup bread crumbs
4 green onions, sliced
2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt & pepper

Topping
4 tbsp brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/3 cup yellow mustard

Mix all meatloaf ingredients together
Place in greased loaf pan
Mix topping ingredients and evenly spread on top of meatloaf
Cook @ 350 degrees for 1 hour
Enjoy!!!