Try These Recipes...

Since I've been sharing these new favorite recipes with lots of friends, I decided to just blog them for anyone else who wants to try REALLY YUMMY melt in your mouth Carne Asada and Refried Beans JUST LIKE at the restaurants, seriously.  These are the real deal.  And super easy, maybe they'll be your new faves, too!  I got these from my friend JoAnn, who got them from her recipe sharing friends, thanks JoAnn!!

Carne Asada


Beef Ranchera - go to your local Mexican meat market and get the Ranchera cut. I bought 2 pounds and it was oodles for my family for a couple of nights.

Olive Oil

Chef Merito Steak and Meat Seasoning Sazonador Para Carne Asada - get this also at your local Mexican meat market!

Juice of lime, 2 or 3

Juice of orange, 1

Cilantro

Dip meat into olive oil, season each side with spice. Layer meat in a bowl and add juices and cilantro. Let soak overnight. Grill, (it's not as good pan fryed or baked!) 3 or 4 minutes on each side. It cooks really fast! Don't overcook. Yummy! 

I served this with the beans (below), rice, some grilled vegies, and just mexican toppings like salsa, guac, etc.  You can put in a tortilla or not.


Refried Beans

3 c. pinto beans, rinsed and sorted (you don't have to soak them)

10 c. water

3 cloves garlic

1 whole onion, cut in half

2 T. olive oil

2 or 3 pieces thick cut bacon

1 or 2 chiles, cut in half (I used a 4 oz can of green chiles)

1 1/2 T. chicken bullion, (I was told to use Knorr brand for this as it is best!)

Put all ingredients in crock pot at 10:00 pm the night before on low. Cook all night, in the morning turn to high, and continue cooking until about 2:00pm or so. (I made this on Sunday and it cooked until after church at 4:00, I think it would also work to just keep it on low and cook until dinner time) Then in a big frying pan, heat up a little more olive oil, add beans, juice and all, and smash really good with a potato masher.  The juices and onions and bacon and stuff just smash in to it all.  Top with cheese. Done! Easy! And it tastes just like the restaurants, yum!

This made a lot of beans! I will freeze half next time. To freeze, put in a freezer bag before you smash them, and then when you're ready, just thaw and smash in a hot pan.