crockpot

Korean Beef Tacos

It was when we were on a family vacation in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan that I had my first Korean beef taco (ok my first 6… we went back for more- again, and again that trip, I couldn’t get enough!) The Little Fleet, is a great place to visit for live music and food, and in the summer they host a “fleet” of food trucks with exceptional menu options. If you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend you give them a try!

-Rachel

This recipe is a creation of our own. Perfect to feed a crowd with little fuss, or simply cut the ingredient amounts in half for a family sized portion. It’s everything we love about Korean beef, in super easy crockpot ready style. Also, these ingredients can be found at any grocer, with no need to visit a Korean market. Although we love the inspiring flavors we discover at specialty markets, we keep it convenient because when the craving hits (and it will)…you have to be ready!!

Easily makes 20 tacos…

3½ lbs Flank Steak
2 Tbsp Ginger Paste
½ cup Maple Syrup
2 Tbsp Sriracha
2 tsp Fish Sauce
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
1 cup Soy Sauce

Place steak into crockpot laying flat.

Mix all other ingredients together in medium bowl.

Pour over beef. Try to situate the steak so it is submersed in sauce. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 7 hours.

Remove meat and cut across grain into large sections about 3-4 inches long and then shred it, using two forks to pull it apart (it should be extremely tender).

*Sometimes I do this whole step while still in crockpot, but it can scratch your pot!

Place back into crockpot with sauce and serve from there.

I serve my tacos with sliced avocado, a dollop of spicy Greek yogurt (1 cup Greek yogurt with 1 tablespoon sriracha mixed in), a squeeze of fresh lime and thinly sliced purple cabbage.


Easy Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki for Two

I love Teriyaki. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t like the flavor of Teriyaki. But for all my appreciation, I can’t get my kids to eat anything with the taste of Teriyaki. Which means there is no point in making a full meal that’s going to go to waste, hence my rare and personal-sized batch of this yummy chicken dinner (or lunch) for two. Of course if your family knows what’s good, feel free to double, triple or quadruple etc.

As organic as possible:

4 boneless skinless tenderloins
2 scallions, finely chopped, plus extra for garnish
1 thumb size piece of fresh ginger, minced or grated
2 small or 1 large garlic clove, minced or grated
1 cup Teriyaki Sauce
1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice (optional)

1 cup cooked brown rice
1 broccoli steamed

Place the tenderloins, scallions, ginger, garlic, Teriyaki sauce and orange juice in a small crockpot. Give a little stir to incorporate all ingredients and set on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. (My little crockpot runs hot even on low, so six hours is plenty.)

Top with extra scallions and serve with rice and broccoli. You’re so healthy.

Sidenote: If you want to roll like we do, about 20 minutes before dinner place the frozen organic chicken tenders for the kids in a preheated oven.
(And if you really want to know how this is going to play out, it’s going to go something like this: my children are going to be really glad I made them chicken that doesn’t have sauce. And they’re going to like their rice. One of my children is going to eat all of his steamed broccoli, and probably ask for some of mine. Another child will eat her mandatory broccoli floret because she is sensible and has reasoning, but she won’t like it. The next child will have passed up every opportunity to eat his broccoli and it will be the last thing left on his plate. And it will have turned into a battle of the wills to take a bite of that broccoli (which is what it has been reduced to). And before it touches his lips, he will already be gagging. Because he has a ridiculous self-imposed gagging reflex. All threats will have been made, and he knows that he will be going to bed straight after dinner without watching any TV with the family. And he will finally take a nibble followed quickly by a drink of milk. And then he will ask for a treat, as if his effort deserves a reward. And the baby will have little green pieces of broccoli all over his chin and covering his tray. Because he has an amazing ability to sort and separate with his tongue the pieces of broccoli that you have tried to shovel in with the spoonfuls of rice. And you will just be satisfied that he at least has tasted the broccoli. After you clear the table you will spend 20 minutes picking and wiping up sticky pieces of rice from the chairs and floor, because not one of your children can get all of their rice in their mouth. And you might murmur to yourself something like “I should just wait until the morning when this is dry and sweep it up.” But you know that in your heart of hearts, if you made a decision like that, that this would be the night they would pretend the kitchen table was a rocketship and they’d all be under there playing and mashing rice with the knees of their pajamas and socks… Whew! Blogging, it’s better than therapy.)