Don Pepes Barbacoa Recipes

SLOW-COOKER BARBACOA

Steps:

• Place the first 9 ingredients in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Add broth; pulse to combine., Place roast and bay leaves in a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker; pour sauce over top. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, 7-9 hours., Prepare rice about 30 minutes before serving. In a large saucepan, combine water, rice, butter and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender, 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat; gently stir in cilantro and lime juice., Remove roast from slow cooker; cool slightly. Discard bay leaves and skim fat from cooking juices. Shred beef with 2 forks; return to slow cooker. Serve with rice.

DON PEPE'S BARBACOA

Steps:

• Soak the chickpeas in water overnight. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).
• Score the skin of the lamb with a very sharp knife. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large cast-iron casserole over high heat, sear the lamb on all sides in the olive oil. Transfer to a plate.
• In the same casserole, add the onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the chickpeas, ancho chiles, garlic, epazote and water. Put the lamb back in the casserole. Cover with cactus leaves if using. Cover the pot. Cook in the oven until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender, about 6 hours.
• Just before bringing to the table, stir in chopped epazote. Serve with salsa, chopped onions, cilantro, lime wedges and tortillas.
• Cook's Note:.
• Epazote is an herb that resembles tarragon. You can substitute with tarragon.

GOAT BARBACOA

Steps:

• For my goat preparation, I have prepared the goat in three ways: Roasted Leg, Seared Rack and the shoulder done in a traditional Barbacoa, which will serve as the sauce for the final, plated dish.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roast the onions and tomatillos on a baking sheet in the oven until soft. Roast the cascabel and guajillo chiles on a pan until toasted and aromatic. Put in a bowl, add the water, and re-hydrate until soft. Put the tomatillo, onion, chiles, wine, vinegar, garlic, and oregano in a blender and blend to form a paste. Spread the paste evenly on the meat and season the meat with the salt. Set the meat in a baking pan and put the bay leaves and avocado leaves, if using, on top.
• Cover with foil and bake until very tender and falling off of the bone, about 4 hours.
• Remove most of the fat from the pan and discard the bay and avocado leaves. Reserve any remaining liquids for Goat Rack and Leg recipe.
• To serve, cut the shoulder into 3- to 4-ounce portions. Reserve the remaining meat and shred for the best tacos you will ever eat.

FRESH AND FRUITY HOT DOG SKEWERS

Steps:

• Skewer hot dog pieces, tomatoes, and pineapple chunks alternately onto 4 skewers.
• Spray a grill pan lightly with nonstick spray, and bring to medium-high heat.
• Add skewers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip skewers over the grill pan, and cook until the tomatoes and pineapple have softened and are slightly blackened, another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Once cool enough to handle, pull the food off the sticks and eat!

GIMME GIMME S'MORES SANDWICH

Steps:

• Break graham cracker sheet into two squares. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, lightly stir together whipped topping, chocolate chips, and marshmallows. Don't over-stir.
• Place one graham cracker square on a plate, and top with whipped-topping mixture. Lightly place the other square on top.
• Freeze until solid, about 1 hour. Store in the freezer until ready to serve. Enjoy!

GROWING OATMEAL BOWL

Steps:

• Combine the oats, apple, sweetener, cinnamon, salt, almond milk, and vanilla extract in a nonstick pot on the stove. Add 1 cup water and mix well. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer.
• Stirring often, cook until very thick and creamy, 12 to 15 minutes. Top with blueberries and additional chopped apple, if using. Eat!