Yummers & Popsicles.

Today I decided to use the crock pot to make dinner. I love my crock pots. I firmly believe that EVERYONE should own and use it all the time! It's what made me start to like and want to cook! Tonight I made Cuban braised beef and peppers from the December 2009 issue of Real Simple ( I love this mag. just about as much as I love my crock pot =)

(Here's what you'll need)

Cuban braised beef and peppers

Ingredients

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
2 red bell peppers, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 onion, cut into 8 wedges
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
kosher salt and black pepper
1 1/2 pounds flank steak, cut crosswise into thirds
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 avocado, sliced
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Directions

1.In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, oregano, cumin, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Nestle the steak among the vegetables. Cook, covered, until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily, on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours.

2.Twenty-five minutes before serving, cook the rice according to the package directions.

3.Using two forks, shred the beef and mix it into the cooking liquid. Serve with the rice and top with the avocado and cilantro.

(Here's the finished result and it looked almost like theirs to the tee!)

**NOTE: I didn't use the cilantro because I'm not a huge fan but I LOVE me some avocado, again something that is optional! It was delicioso!! We've decided to try a pork roast next time because the steak was a little tough. I cooked it on high for 5 hours so we're going to see if cooking it on low for 7-8 will be any better!! Hope you enjoy this one!

On Tuesday I went to a scrapbooking class, being taught by one of my blogger friends Liz, that was teaching how to create quick layouts. One of the layouts we did was of popsicles and it made me want one, Ha! So tonight after dinner we went on the balcony and Logan had his first popsicle, EVER! At first he bit right into it and didn't want anything to do with it but he saw my sister and I eating them and then he got the hang of it and went to town! By the end he was a hot mess and he shook his popsicle so hard that it fell into pieces!! He looked bummed too!