Saturday, June 28, 2014

A Recipe To Kill & Dinner


 Normally I have ten different ideas about what I want to write. Not today. Today I am stumped. I found out this week there is actually a name for bloggers like me. However I don't think 3 paragraphs on what kind of blogger am I is really going to interest you as much as it interest me. 
  I weeded the back yard, sound interesting? well in a way it actually was interesting. We don't spray weed killers or pesticides so normally I am hand weeding the yard and it can be a pretty daunting task. Like most things in life you pick your battles and struggle through. The same for weeding I pick my battles and struggle on. If I where to try and weed this entire property I would be busy from sunup to sundown and nothing else would ever get done.


 So when it was all over face book and even on the news I had to give this recipe a try. Yes I said recipe, just like the recipe for the bubbles. Remember them and how cool they were. Well I could only hope and pray this recipe would work as well if not better. A recipe to kill weeds with out harming the environment or myself. I couldn't ask for anything more. All it was going to cost me to find out if it really worked was a gallon of vinegar, 2 cups Epsom salt, and a 1/4 cup of dish soap.  I experimented with a small amount and it worked. The spot of weeds I dumped it on died and when it was mowed down the spot of weeds didn't grow back.  Totally encouraged I fill the sprayer and spray the back yard around the swing set. Two days later I am looking at weeds alive and strong, kind of laughing at me really. After discussing my lack of dead weeds with Dzia we decide I need to spray heavier and do smaller areas. Yesterday morning I resprayed the area that refused to die using 2 gallons of the mixture this time. By noon the weeds weren't laughing anymore in fact they were looking very very sad. 

The only thing is I still have to pull them. I had envisioned the weeds just magically disappearing. While I was waiting for the vinegar solution to work I went ahead and hand pulled the other side of the yard.

 Truth be told I am faster at pulling the weeds then the vinegar is but if it helps keep the weeds from returning I can learn to be patient.

 Oh if you try this weed killer be careful where you spray because it will kill grass and flowers too. I plan on using it out in the garden I just need a day with no wind.
 Not the most exciting post I have ever written but it is life.
  " What Was Dinner" Dog gone good that was what dinner was. I crock potted a chuck roast in beer and beef broth all day and once it was fall apart done I created heaven on a plate. 

  Beef and Bean Tostada's  
  3 lb chuck roast
1 12 oz bottle dark beer
1 1/2 cup beef stock
1 medium onion quartered 
4 cloves garlic smashed
 1 can black beans
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 cup shredded cheese 
4 corn tortillia  shells
1 large tomato diced
2 green onions chopped
guacamole for topping
 In a crock pot place meat, beer, broth, onion and garlic cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Until meat falls apart.
 In a small sauce pan combine beans, cumin, chili, & curry powder. Simmer on low heat until heated through. About 15 minutes.
 On the grill or stove top lightly toast one side of the corn tortilla shells and then flip over. Divide the cheese between the shell and let melt. Once cheese has melted remove from the heat.
 Spread the beans on top of the cheese tortillia's and then add the meat, ( hot sauce or salsa should be added here if you like heat) Top with tomatoes, green onion, and guacamole. Serve hot.

 This recipe will make more then 4 tostada's, I used the number 4 because that is how many I made the night I served this. There was enough left over for every ones lunch the next day. Keep in mind I never really measure I just give you my best guess as to how much spice I used so feel free to adjust to your family's taste.

 I strain and freeze the broth from the meat and that is what I use as beef broth in my recipes. Better flavor and less salt then store bought broth.
 Tomorrow I will be posting a special 4th of July edition with my blue ribbon winning Couscous salad and links to other recipes and crafts that can help you make the most of your red white and blue weekend. 
 Have a great weekend! Thank you for stopping by! 
  

2 comments:

  1. These tostadas look yummy. I hear you on the weeds. I use straight vinegar on my weeds. It does take a while for it to work, but they don't grow back. {Thumbs Up}.

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    1. The hubby is not liking the vinegar smell in the yard but I don't mind knowing I won't have to weed again. The tostada was out of this world good.

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