meals Archives - Element Deer Valley Blog

meals Archives - Element Deer Valley Blog https://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/tag/meals/ Just another Rent Cafe Blogs Sites site Mon, 12 Aug 2019 17:12:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 How to Make the Best Carnitas at Home https://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/2019/08/19/how-to-make-the-best-carnitas-at-home/ https://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/2019/08/19/how-to-make-the-best-carnitas-at-home/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2019 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/?p=370 Carnitas may taste complicated but can be easily made with a good recipe and a quality slow cooker. If you love pulled pork, you're definitely going to want to try the spicier Mexican version. In this crispy carnitas recipe, you get the best of both worlds. With a golden crisp on the outside and tender…

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Carnitas may taste complicated but can be easily made with a good recipe and a quality slow cooker. If you love pulled pork, you're definitely going to want to try the spicier Mexican version. In this crispy carnitas recipe, you get the best of both worlds. With a golden crisp on the outside and tender meat on the inside, you'll have everyone asking for a second helping.

Start with the Marinade

Carnitas demands for the pork to be soaked through with the right ingredients:

Oregano
Cumin
Onion
Orange juice
Lime juice
Garlic
Bay leaves
Salt and pepper

This meal really needs time to absorb its flavors. Otherwise, you might as well just make pulled pork sandwiches. The citrus in the recipe, in this case from oranges and limes, will help the meat get that tenderness you crave while the sugars from the soda will help the pork eventually caramelize and crisp up the edges. Use pork shoulder or pork butt to get the best results.

Wait a While

Ideally, it takes up to 10 hours for your slow cooker to transform all the ingredients into the carnitas you'll be dying to eat by the time you walk through the door after a long day at work. Once it's done, remove and shred the pork with a fork, but keep the liquid in the slow cooker. You can transfer the pork to a greased baking sheet, season with a cup of liquid from the slow cooker, and then broil on high for five to 10 minutes.

Serve the Way You Like It

Some people enjoy their carnitas in a burrito with rice, beans, and cheese. Others want it in a salad, topped with sliced avocado and corn. If you have any leftovers, carnitas are perfect as a frozen pizza topping or as a complement to mac and cheese.

There are plenty of places to get carnitas near Phoenix apartments, but there's something valuable about making it yourself. If you want a new kitchen to step up your cooking skills, consider Element at Deer Valley. Contact us today to see how we encourage our community to live their best lives.

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4 Meal Prep Tips to Make Your Life Easier https://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/2019/05/06/4-meal-prep-tips-to-make-your-life-easier/ https://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/2019/05/06/4-meal-prep-tips-to-make-your-life-easier/#respond Mon, 06 May 2019 22:12:00 +0000 http://www.elementdeervalley.com/blog/?p=262 If you’re looking for ways to eat healthier, it all starts with meal preparation. Being more prepared when hunger strikes or you’re on-the-go can turn your entire diet upside-down (in a good way). If you’re not used to meal prepping or you’d like to improve your “skills” at meal preparation, here are some tips: Invest…

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If you’re looking for ways to eat healthier, it all starts with meal preparation. Being more prepared when hunger strikes or you’re on-the-go can turn your entire diet upside-down (in a good way).

If you’re not used to meal prepping or you’d like to improve your “skills” at meal preparation, here are some tips:

Invest In Quality Storage Containers Of All Sizes

Resist the urge to just “use the dishes you have” with some plastic wrap or aluminum foil on top for meal prep. You want sturdy storage containers (ideally made out of glass), and you want every one to have its own durable lid as well. This allows you to go faster during your preparation and to stack your dishes once they’re ready for the fridge or freezer.

Designate A “Meal Prep Day.”

To keep yourself on track every week, designate a specific day for meal preparation. Start by making a list of all the foods you want to prepare. Next, make a grocery list of what you’ll need for each meal.

Once you've finished your grocery shopping, make sure your kitchen is nice and clean and all your dishes are done. Put on a movie or a podcast to make the time go faster, get out your storage containers, and start cooking and prepping!

Don’t Make More Than You’ll Eat In A Week

You might be tempted to create meals for the entire month, but resist this urge. It's better to stick with the week ahead to ensure that everything remains fresh and enticing.

Choose Foods That Save Well

Whether you plan to store the food you've prepped in the refrigerator or the freezer, make sure you choose the right types of foods. That is, keep in mind that sandwiches and wraps won't store very well in the refrigerator (the bread or wrap tends to get soggy). Salads, meat and rice/pasta dishes, and soups tend to store better.

Similarly, only some foods (such as lasagna or certain soups) store well in the freezer.

Start making delicious meals of your own in your brand-new Phoenix apartment! Floor plans in our Phoenix apartments are currently available. Call our office today to learn more!