Sunday, February 28, 2016

Stitch Fix #18 Review - February 2016

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February 2016 Stitch Fix Review Collage

Stitch Fix Review - February 2016

Note:  This point contains affiliate links to support my blogging addiction!  :)

I'm so excited that our short winter is basically over!  It's fun to dress up in sweaters and coats for a few months (and there are so many cute things out there), but I really thrive on sunshine and warm weather.  I just got my February fix two days early!  I was very happy about that.  It was supposed to arrive on Monday (a school day).  Getting it on Saturday gave me all weekend to enjoy trying the items on, taking pictures, and sharing them with all of you!  :)

I became a member of Stitch Fix in January of 2015, and I've had a blast so far!  Then, in October of 2015, I tried Golden Tote, another clothing-by-mail service!  Between the two of them, my closet is in the best shape EVER!  (And I don't consider myself a fashionista!)  :)

If you've never heard of it, you can follow the links below to any of my reviews and get the scoop on this other great service.  It's a little different than Stitch Fix, but I've found it equally fun!  I've gotten four totes so far, along with a couple of mystery totes.  (Those weren't quite as successful, but what can you do?)  It's addicting!  Anyway, here are my Golden Tote reviews if you're interested:

Golden Tote Review - February 2016

Golden Tote Review - January Mystery Totes

Golden Tote Review - December 2015

Golden Tote Review - November 2015

Golden Tote Review - October 2015

OK.  Back to Stitch Fix!

Here's what I saw when I opened the box this time around:

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - In Box

Pretty colors!  Lots of blue . . . and jewelry!

I have to admit - I did peek at what I was getting, so it wasn't a total surprise.  I was excited though.  Most of it looked right up my alley . . . or at least pretty close!

I recently changed my account settings so that I only receive fixes once a month.  I've gotten so many cute things that it's hard not to keep too many items.  My closet is getting full!

If you're reading this, you probably already know the ins and outs of Stitch Fix.  If you've never heard of it, here are the basics: 

To get started, you go to their website and fill out your style profile!  That gives you a chance to show your stylist your measurements, usual sizes, how you like things to fit, and the styles that generally appeal to you.  
If you're interested in checking it out, please consider following my link to schedule your first fix!  (I just recently joined Stitch Fix's affiliate program, which means I get a small commission for anyone who signs up using my link.  However, my opinions are always my own and I pay for all of my own fixes!)

When you order a fix, you pay $20.00 to have your own personal stylist look at your style profile and preferences (which can include a Pinterest board).  They will choose five clothing and/or accessory items specifically for you.  They are shipped right to your doorstep!  You have three days to try the items with other things in your own wardrobe and decide if you want to keep them.  The $20.00 styling fee is credited toward any items that you decide to purchase, and you receive a prepaid shipping envelope to return anything that you don't want.  If you happen to keep all five items, you receive a 25% discount on the whole box!  You can choose to receive fixes every month, every few weeks, or only once in a while.  Here are some links to my previous reviews, if you'd like to check them out:

February 2016 - #17

January 2016 - #16

December 2015 - #15

November 2015 - #14

November 2015 - #13

October 2015 - #12

September 2015 - #11

Stitch Fix Keepers

September 2015 - #10

August 2015 - #9

One of the great things about Stitch Fix is that they send you a little style card to show you what you can do with your clothing items.  That's great for people like me who are still learning!

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - Style Card

The style card always includes a little note from your stylist.  This is the third fix in a row that Lauren has styled for me.  She has done a great job so far, and I was thrilled when I opened the box and saw the fun pieces that she chose for me this time!  Here's her note to me:

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - Stylist Note

And here's what I got!  :)

1.  Zad Clarence Beaded Spade Earrings - $28.00


February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - Zad Clarence Beaded Spade Earrings

These earrings are so beautiful!  As soon as I saw them, I was in love and knew I had to keep them.  The coral color is not one of my go-tos, but I don't care.  I will find something to wear with these earrings!  Here are a couple more photos that show the size of the earrings:

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - Zad Clarence Spade Beaded Earring


Zad Clarence Spade Beaded Earring and THML Alasia Embroidery Detail Tunic

While they are not the lightest earrings ever, they aren't as heavy as a couple of my other pairs.  I'm not a fan of heavy earrings.  I can just feel them stretching my earlobes.  I usually only wear heavier ones for a few hours at a time (for a date night, or something like that).  I would be comfortable wearing these all day.  I just have to tame my hair so that they are actually visible.  I have lots of wavy, unruly hair.  I like dangly earrings.  It can be a problem.  Ha ha.  :)

Yep.  They're keepers!

Verdict:  KEEP

2. Liverpool Harper Bootcut Pant - $88.00


Liverpool Harper Bootcut Pant and 41Hawthorn Ava Floral Print Silk Henley Top

I finally got blue pants!  :)  I've been asking for them frequently over the last couple of months.  I've seen so many cute teal or blue printed pants in other people's fixes!

I tried the pants with a top that you'll hear more about in just a minute!  I also added a lovely pair of Nakamol Lexa Beaded Teardrop Earrings that I got in my January fix.

I've never had a pair of pants cut quite like this.  They're supposed to be boot cut, but they are certainly the skinniest boot cut pants that I've ever tried on.  I don't see myself wearing them with actual boots.  At first, I wasn't sure what to wear with them.  I tried flats.  Then I tried sandals.  I wasn't sure if sandals would be an appropriate choice, but I did see sandals on the style card!  If I decide to keep them, I think I'll be OK.

Here's another photo that shows the length.  I think they're all right - I just hope they don't shrink!  Note - the little black pug in the photo did NOT come in my fix.  Ha ha.

Liverpool Harper Bootcut Pant and 41Hawthorn Ava Floral Print Silk Henley Top

Verdict:  UMMM . . . WHAT DO YOU THINK?  HELP ME OUT???


3.  THML Longoria Embroidery Detail Top - Price - $58.00



I really wanted this blouse to work!  I love the colors and the embroidery.  For the most part, it fits pretty well, but the lovely embroidered band at the bottom is just a bit too tight!  And it has no stretch to it.  :/

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - THML Longoria Embroidery Detail Top

It looks all right, but it would bug me.  I feel like I would constantly have to pull it down to make sure it stayed on my hips.  I also wish it was just a bit longer - maybe an inch or two?

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - THML Longoria Embroidery Detail Top

Anyway, I'm tempted to ask for a large (this one is a medium).   In the past, Stitch Fix has been great about doing size exchanges if the item is available.  I'm just not sure, though.  It seems like a short top anyway, even if I was able to get a bigger size!  

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - THML Longoria Embroidery Detail Top

I love the colors, though!  What do you think?  Should I ask for a large?

Verdict:  UNDECIDED


4.  41Hawthorn Ava Floral Print Silk Henley Blouse - $88.00



February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - 41Hawthorn Ava Floral Print Silk Henley Top

When I saw that I was getting a floral print blouse, I was a bit skeptical!  Floral prints are not always my thing - it's got to be the right floral print!

Well, this one is pretty good.  It's got colors that I love!  It's not too girly!  It works.

The fit is also right on.  My main issue is the price.  It's not cheap.  Do I love it?  I'm not sure.  I've got lots of tops in my closet!

It makes a cute outfit with the pants, but I don't know if I'm keeping the pants.  Again, I need help!  What do you think?

Verdict:  UNDECIDED

5. THML - Alasia Embroidery Detail Tunic - $68.00


February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - THML Alasia Embroidery Detail Tunic

I really loved this top.  In theory.  In reality, it didn't work.  I don't even think another size would have worked.

When I peeked to see what I was getting, I wasn't sure if this orangey coral color would be my thing.  Once I saw it in person, though, I loved it!  I also loved the black and white embroidery trim!

I styled the top with a pair of Liverpool Anita Skinny Pants that I received in my September fix.  They have shrunk just a bit since I got them, so I wore some sandals with straps that go a bit higher up my ankle than most of my other sandals.  I think it works.  I know ankle pants are in but I hate feeling like my pants are too short!

The tunic just wasn't happening, though.  It fit great through the shoulders, but was cut a bit slim through the hips.  If I'm going to wear a tunic, I don't want it to cling to my pants.

February 2016 Stitch Fix Review - THML Alasia Embroidery Detail Tunic

The other problem was that the embroidery detail in the chest area just didn't lay right.  It was stiff and seemed to stick up in a way that I didn't like.  That's not a size issue.  There's nothing you can do about that.

With regret, I have to send this back!

It matches perfectly with the earrings, too, so I'm doubly sad!  :(

I have a few other THML tops that I love (and that still fit me), so I'm not sure why these two tops seemed to be cut a little slim around the hips this time.  Too bad . . . so cute!

Verdict:  RETURN

Well, I loved the items that Lauren picked for me.  I could easily have had a 5/5 if I didn't have the fit issues.  I hope she can style for me again!  :)

As the weather gets warmer, I'm looking forward to shorts, sleeveless shirts, summer clothes . . . <3  I can't wait to see what I'll get next time!

By the way, if you haven't had enough, you can check out some other great Stitch Fix reviews by visiting this linkup:
www.crazytogether.com/february-stitch-fix-review-and-link-up-33/2


It's hosted by Maria of Crazy Together and Kinder Craze.  She received some great items this month as well!  One of them was a lovely dark green top that she paired with an amazing statement necklace!  I received the same top in my last fix (in a different color) and sent it back!  :(  Maybe it just needed a necklace!  Anyway, check it out!  :)

As you can see, I was undecided about a few things!  I know I'm keeping the earrings.  I know I'm returning the coral tunic.  Should I keep the pants?  Should I keep the floral top?  Should I request a larger size in the navy embroidered top?  I have a few more days before I have to check out, so help me out!  :)

Please comment?  Did I make the right calls?  Have you received any of these items?  What did you think?  Thanks again for reading!

Saturday, February 27, 2016

I'm Halfway There - Here Are My Top 8 Taco Recipes So Far!

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8 Best Taco Recipes From The Taco Project Collage

8 Best Taco Recipes From The Taco Project


I can't believe it!  I finally made it to the fifty-recipe mark!  I have only fifty recipes left to complete my project!

It's been an interesting experience.  How do I feel about it?  Well, that depends on the day.  Ask me one day and you might get, "This is so great.  I love creating recipes.  I have so many ideas!"  Ask me a week later and it could be more like, "I can't imagine eating tacos this often for six more months.  What will I make?  Ugh.  I don't know . . . "  Ha ha.  Overall, I'm glad I did it.  I'm learning a lot.

I thought I would celebrate with a "best of" post!  I thought about doing the top 5, but there are so many good ones!  A top 10 list seems like overkill, because that would mean that 20% of the recipes would be in the top 10.  Maybe not as special???  I don't know.  After debating with myself, I decided to highlight my top 8 recipes so far!  If you were to try just one of my taco recipes, these would be at the top of my list!  I'll present them in the order in which they were created:

3. Champagne-Poached Salmon Tacos with Baby Arugula and Dill Hollandaise


Champagne Poached Salmon Tacos with Baby Arugula and Dill Hollandaise

This was the recipe that made me realize how good brunch tacos could be.  I remember making a huge mess in the kitchen (there are quite a few steps involved), but I also remember us having a fabulous Sunday morning/afternoon and eating a concoction that we will remember forever!  Someday, when I'm done with this project, I'll make these again.  With the mimosas!  :)

10. Fall-Spiced Chicken Tacos with Cilantro-Pumpkin Seed Slaw, Roasted Red Pepper Salsa, and Spanish Cheese


Fall Spiced Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Pumpkin Seed Slaw, Roasted Red Pepper Salsa, and Spanish Cheese

This recipe has so many amazing flavors - spicy chicken, a delectable salsa, the crunch of pumpkin seeds, and a nutty Spanish cheese.  It calls for pumpkin ale, but I'm sure any flavorful amber or brown ale would work if pumpkin ale doesn't happen to be "in season".

18. Classic "Americanized" Ground Beef Tacos circa 1979


Classic Americanized Ground Beef Tacos

I made these on a evening when I was feeling some nostalgia about the tacos we used to have when I was a kid, which was way before it was easy to be a "foodie".  Our main kitchen resource was an old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook - definitely no internet!  We really enjoyed this renovation of the old classic, even if it may not be authentic.  Someday, I'm going to make these for my mom!  :)

19. Oktoberfest Tacos!


Oktoberfest Tacos

This was a really fun recipe!  I made it during the month of October (of course) and tried to celebrate certain aspects of German food while still staying true to the spirit of my taco project!  We loved these!  I remember that there was too much cheese sauce - I made a note about that in the original recipe.  The red cabbage mixture was soooo good!


27. Pavo Verde (Green Turkey) Tacos


Pavo Verde Green Turkey Tacos

These turkey tacos happened on a night when I really wasn't sure what I was going to make!  I just threw a bunch of stuff in a shopping cart and this was the result.  I like them because they're kind of different, but they still have a lot of traditional taco elements - spice, salsa, avocado!  I haven't made these again yet (because my current focus is on creating new recipes) but I will.  I'll look forward to them, too!

28. Crispy Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Sauce, Roasted Red Pepper, and Red Cabbage-Apple Slaw


Crispy Shrimp Tacos with Sriracha Sauce, Roasted Red Pepper, and Red Cabbage Apple Slaw

These tacos were inspired by a shrimp taco that I've ordered a few times from a restaurant in Tucson.  I was really happy with them.  Spicy and a little bit sweet - what's not to like?  The deep frying is a little messy, but they're worth it!  :)

36. Banana-Nutella Tacos with a Hazelnut Pancake Shell and Frangelico Whipped Cream


Banana Nutella Tacos with a Hazelnut Pancake Shell and Frangelico Whipped Cream

I don't even think I need to say anything about these.  Bananas.  Nutella.  Boozy whipped cream.  Serve them with bacon on the side and swoon.  You're welcome.

48. Smoked Swordfish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cholula Aioli


Smoked Swordfish Tacos with Mango Salsa and Cholula Aioli

We love fish tacos in our house.  There is a recipe from the January 2000 issue of Gourmet magazine
(based on one from Rubio's) that I've made for years.  Sometimes, on taco night, my husband requests them and I have to remind him that I'm trying to create recipes, not remake ones that I already know are good.  He's such a good sport.

Well, these are legit fish tacos that I came up with on my own.  We both loved them.  Spicy and sweet - here we go again with those flavors!  If you like fish tacos, you'll love these!

That's it for now.  If you've made any of my recipes, or even just read them, thank you.  I appreciate it.  Here's to 50 more!  O.o  I love tacos!

. . .

No, really, I do.  Ha ha!  :)

Please feel free to comment - thanks for reading!

Friday, February 26, 2016

50. Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos with Thai-Style Green Curry Sauce and Cabbage Slaw

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I was in the mood for some vegetarian tacos on the night that I made my fiftieth recipe!  I've featured lots of vegetables so far - mushrooms, potatoes, spaghetti squash, calabacitas . . . 

I was leaning toward sweet potatoes for this one.  I knew it would be a challenge.  Steve's not a huge fan of sweet potatoes, though he'll usually try them.  I did make breakfast tacos with sweet potato hash a few months ago:  http://www.arizonarenaissancewoman.com/2015/10/22-breakfast-tacos-with-roasted-sweet.html.  Those went over all right.  Kind of.  :)  I decided to try again!  

I was also in the mood for Thai food - green curry, specifically.  One challenge to making Thai food in my town is our limited number of grocery options.  We've got a few large supermarket chains, but they don't often carry specialty items.  Coconut milk?  Yes.  Thai chiles?  Usually.  Lemongrass?  Sometimes.  Kaffir lime leaves or galangal?  No.  Never.

I recently bought the two latter items on Amazon (in dried form).  In the past, I've always used fresh lime leaves and galangal (after a trip to a Phoenix or Tucson area Asian market), but I've been looking forward to trying the dried versions.  Here are links to check them out if you would like to try them as well:





What if you don't have or want to buy these things?  Well . . . instead of kaffir lime leaves, I have successfully used a leaf or two from our Mexican lime tree.  I've also substituted a small amount of lime zest.  For galangal, I think extra ginger is a decent substitution.  They are closely related and have a similar flavor.  I don't think these are ideal substitutions, but they work.  :)

Well, here's what I came up with - a fairly non-authentic Thai(ish) sweet potato taco.   :)

Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos with Thai-Style Green Curry Sauce and Cabbage Slaw

Serves 4 (about 8 to 10 large tacos)

Ingredients:

For the green curry sauce:

2 tsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1/2 cup coarsely chopped shallots
One to two Serrano peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh ginger
1 tsp. dried galangal (or 1 tbsp. chopped fresh galangal)
1 tsp. dried kaffir lime leaf (or one fresh lime leaf)
1/2 cup packed cilantro leaves and stems
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tbsp. canola oil
One 13.5 oz. can coconut milk
Finely ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup sliced basil


For the roasted vegetables:

1/2 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2 to 3/4 inch chunks
1 large sweet potato (mine was 14 oz.), peeled and cut into 3/4 inch chunks
1/2 red onion, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. canola oil

For the slaw:

2 cups thinly sliced cabbage or coleslaw mix
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 scallions, thinly sliced
12 grape tomatoes, cut into quarters
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 tsp. salt

8 to 10 thick flour tortillas


Lime slices, for garnish (optional)

1.  Toast the spices:  Place the coriander and cumin seeds in a small skillet.  Heat over medium heat until fragrant and lightly toasted but not burned, about 4 to 5 minutes.  Set aside to cool.


2. Place the cooled spices, shallots, peppers, garlic, ginger, galangal, kaffir lime leaf, cilantro, water, and salt in a blender.  Blend until smooth.  (Note: My photo shows a food processor, but I think a blender would be a better choice!)


3. Roast the vegetables:  Toss the red pepper, sweet potato, and onion with the paprika, salt, and canola oil.  Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and roast in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and somewhat browned.  Remove from the oven and set aside.


4.  While the vegetables are roasting, finish the sauce:  Heat the 1 tbsp. of canola oil in medium skillet over medium-low heat.  Add the green curry mixture and cook and stir for a minute or two.  Add the coconut milk and stir to combine.  Turn the heat to very low and simmer for about 10 minutes or so.  Keep warm.  


5. While the sauce is simmering, make the slaw:  Place all slaw ingredients in a medium bowl and toss to combine.  Set aside.


6. Add the roasted vegetables to the sauce.  If the vegetables and/or sauce have cooled at all, you can turn the heat back on and get it back to a simmer.  Add the sliced basil and stir.  Taste and adjust seasonings.


7.  Prepare the tortillas to your liking:  I prefer to heat mine in a dry cast iron skillet over medium high heat for about 30 seconds to a minute on each side.  After each one is done, I place it on the foil and immediately start the next one.  I stack them on top of one another as I work.  When I'm done with the whole batch, I wrap them completely in the foil.  You can keep them warm in a 250 degree oven if you wish, but I didn't bother as this was my last step!

8.  When all of the components are ready, assemble the tacos:  For each taco, place a tortilla on a plate.   Top with a generous amount of the sweet potato curry mixture.  Spoon on some of the slaw.  Garnish with a squeeze or two of lime.  Enjoy!






Well.  At our house, we had varied opinions about these tacos.

Actually, not really.  There are two of us, so we had two opinions.  I thought they were exotically tasty, just as I had envisioned, though there are a few tweaks that I would make next time.

These did not win Steve over to sweet potatoes.  He is still not a fan.  Sigh.  Ha ha.  I tried.  Though unusual, these tacos are actually pretty good if you like the ingredients.  If I had make them with chicken, they probably would have gone over a little bit better!  In short, they didn't quite work for him.

So . . . what would I tweak?  Well . . .

The sauce was pretty good!  For some reason, I decided to use the food processor instead of the blender to make the curry paste mixture.  Yeah, that didn't quite cut it.  With the whole cumin and coriander seeds and the dried galangal (which was a bit woody), a blender would have been a much better choice.  Though the food processor worked out OK - the texture of the sauce was just a bit rustic!

The filling is pretty saucy.  I used a thick flour tortilla (the same one that I used in my Chili Con Carne tacos - http://www.arizonarenaissancewoman.com/2016/02/46-chili-con-carne-tacos.html) and that was definitely a good call.  A thin tortilla might prove slightly frustrating in this situation.

Well - by now, we all know the drill.  Would this recipe have made more sense just spooned over rice instead of wrapped in a tortilla?  Ha ha.  Maybe.  But then, we wouldn't have The Taco Project, would we?

As I said in the beginning, I'll be honest about how these turn out.  These were honestly pretty good.  And weird.  And interesting.  And not the best choice for someone with negatively ambivalent feelings about sweet potatoes!

The dried kaffir lime leaf and galangal seemed to do the job.  They both smelled like their fresh versions, though I would take the fresh in a heartbeat if it was available.  I would recommend purchasing the dried versions to use in a pinch.  I'm sure I'll use them again!  :)

Feel free to comment on this recipe!  Did you try the tacos?  What did you think?  How about the dried galangal and kaffir lime leaf?  Would you give those a shot?

Thanks for reading!

Sunday, February 21, 2016

49. Short Rib Tacos with Marinated Red Peppers and Feta

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I was picturing a brisket taco this time around, but it just didn't happen.  We went to our local grocery store to get the ingredients for this recipe, and they didn't have any brisket.  Fortunately, they did have short ribs.  Short ribs can be delicious.  They're rather fatty, but they can be great if most of that fat is cooked out of them!

I've been spoiled - the last few times I've made short ribs, I've been lucky enough to have grass-fed, local short ribs from southern Arizona.  Well.  I don't know where these came from.  I'm usually rather choosy about meat, but I decided to just go with it this time.

So . . . it worked out, but you do get what you pay for!  I'll go into that more later!

I decided to braise these short ribs in some beef broth and red wine - we have quite a bit of wine on hand these days.  A few months ago, I joined a wine-by-mail service called Tasting Room.  It's been pretty good so far.  I wouldn't call it top shelf wine, but it's great for most days, and it's definitely more interesting than the selections I can find at our local grocery store!  Here's a review of the initial tasting kit that I received if you're interested:

http://www.arizonarenaissancewoman.com/2015/11/tasting-room-wine-subscription-review.html

Anyway, I thought this was a perfect opportunity to use a cup of this tasty Shiraz:


The short ribs are cooked slowly, so the time frame from start to finish is significant.  However, each step is pretty easy and there is plenty of downtime during the process.

I thought that this amount of beef would make A LOT of tacos.  Well . . . there was a lot of fat involved, and once that was discarded, there was not as much meat as I thought.  This recipe would comfortably serve four, and maybe more than that if you have high-quality short ribs!

Here's the recipe:

Short Rib Tacos with Marinated Red Peppers and Feta

Serves 4 (about 12 small tacos)

Ingredients:

For the short ribs:

About 3.5 lb. beef short ribs, seasoned generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper


2 tbsp. olive oil
1 large sweet onion, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced


1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
2 or 3 dried bay leaves
1 tbsp. tomato paste
1 cup beef stock
1 cup red wine
1/2 tsp. salt

For the red peppers:

2 red peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, and cut into strips


1 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1 tbsp. chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

A few ounces of feta cheese

12 small street-taco-size corn tortillas


Instructions:

1.  Start the short ribs:  Preheat the oven to 290 degrees.  Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a heavy, oven-safe pot, such as a Dutch oven.  Add the short ribs (in batches) and brown on all sides.  It will probably take 15 to 20 minutes for both batches.  Transfer the short ribs to a plate and set aside.  Add the onion, carrots, and garlic to the pan, lower the heat to medium low, and cook the vegetables until they are soft and somewhat browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.


Add the cinnamon, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves.  Continue to cook and stir for another couple of minutes.  Add the tomato paste, beef stock, wine, and salt and bring to a simmer.


Add the short ribs, cover, and place in the oven.


Cook for approximately 2 1/2 hours (turning the short ribs every 30 minutes or so), or until the meat is extremely tender and falling off of the bone.

2.  While the beef is cooking, make the peppers:  Combine the sliced peppers, oil, vinegar, cilantro, parsley, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and toss to combine.  Taste and adjust seasoning.  Set aside.


3.  Remove the short ribs from the oven.  Take off the lid and allow to rest for a few minutes while you heat the tortillas.


4.  Prepare the tortillas to your liking:  There are a few different ways you can do this.  When I am making tacos with soft corn tortillas, I heat a dry cast iron skillet over medium high heat.  I place a large sheet of aluminum foil near the pan.  I heat each tortilla in the skillet for about a minute or so on each side, or until it softens and begins to brown.


After each one is done, I place it on the foil and immediately start the next one.  I stack them on top of one another as I work.  When I'm done with the whole batch, I wrap them completely in the foil and place them in a 250 degree oven until I'm ready to assemble the tacos.  They always stay hot and soft!  If there are leftovers, I heat fresh tortillas for the next meal.  

5. Transfer the short ribs to a plate and use a knife and fork (or a couple of forks) to separate the meat from the fat and shred into small pieces.  Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired.  Skim the excess fat from the sauce left in the pan.  Blend the sauce with a hand blender until fairly smooth.  Return the short rib meat to the pan and toss to combine.  Keep warm on a burner set to low.


6.  Assemble the tacos:  For each taco, place a tortilla on a plate.  Spoon some of the short rib mixture down the center of the tortillas.  Top with some of the marinated peppers.  Finish with a generous sprinkle of feta cheese.  Enjoy!


Wow - these were so flavorful and rich!

Yes.  Rich.  About that . . . these short ribs were the fattiest ones I have ever worked with.  Oh my goodness!  O.O

However, once I skimmed all the fat off, I found that the meat was delicious!  Just be prepared - it all depends on the quality of the meat that you have.  I have used grass-fed, local short ribs that were much less fatty.  With this cut, there is always fat involved, but I have found that it can vary a lot!  I was a little disappointed at how much I had to throw away . . . ah, well!  That's what I get for not sticking to my guns in terms of my usual meat quality standards!

As I said earlier in this post, you get what you pay for!

We did love these, though!  As I type this post, I am currently transforming the leftover meat into a pasta sauce.  I have high hopes for it!  The combination of spices (cinnamon, cumin, oregano) is interesting and just unusual enough to catch a person's interest!

Another great thing about this recipe is that most of it can be prepared ahead of time.  That's always nice!  Honestly, this is one of those things that will improve with age!  Within reason, of course!  :)

My next recipe will be number 50!  I'm so excited!  What will it be???  Stay tuned and see . . .

Feel free to comment on this recipe!  Did you try them?  What did you think?

Thanks for reading!