Shredded Pork Taquitos

I am a stay-at-home mom.  But since the last of our five children started kindergarten this past fall, I joke that between the hours of eight and three while they are at school, I am simply a mom who stays home.  It took some time getting used to the empty house and it just being me during the weekdays.  I've been home with, at least, one child for lots and lots of years.  But, I've come to relish those hours now since it allows me to get a lot of housework done, to work freely on the blog, to catch a nap if desired and it allows my brain some peace - all without any interruptions.  (Is that too selfish sounding?)

 

 

My hectic times seem to be more in the afternoon due to activities and such that my kids participate in.  Throughout the year, they are involved in band, community theater, sports, quiz bowl, student council and art club - oh my!  Then, of course, there are all those doctor appointments - yesterday we hit the eye doctor and the dentist all in one afternoon.  Today we had art club after school ... followed by two student-led parent/teacher conferences.

 

So, I'm a mom who utilizes my slow cooker a ton! I get the kids on the bus a little after seven each morning, then I can focus on getting something going in the slow cooker once they take off for the day.  It's a must-have kitchen appliance for me ... since I know that I am not home several days a week during the afternoon to slip away to the kitchen to cook. 

I made a large batch of my Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Pork with these taquitos in mind.  The recipe for the shredded pork makes a big batch, so I'm, also, able to portion the meat out and freeze some for a quick weeknight dinner option on another night.

I've made taquitos before, but decided to combine my method with a recently-published recipe for taquitos from a fellow blogger, Riches to Rags by Dori.  These were a winner in our house.

Yields 10 taquitos.

Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Pork

I'm sharing this basic recipe for Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Pork with you today as a starting point for another recipe that I'll be sharing soon - one that utilizes the pork in a super yummy way. This pork, however, can be used for any type of tacos, taquitos, enchiladas or burritos. It's kind of a basic recipe that I often use in addition to my Green Chili and Lime Pulled Pork for tacos and such. 

Since this makes way more shredded pork than I use for one dinner or dish, I often freeze some of it after it is done in the slow cooker for later use.  I freeze mine in disposable aluminum containers.  When I want to use it, I thaw it out in the fridge overnight and place the whole disposable container right into my slow cooker to heat the pork back up.  (You can reheat it in a pan on the stove top, as well.)

Pork Carnitas

 

Thank you to Carole from My Kitchen Escapades for enlightening me to this recipe!  Seriously!  You deserve an award!

I usually make a green chile and lime shredded pork recipe in the slow cooker when I'm planning pork tacos.  That was my plan up until last night when I happened upon Carole's recipe and changed my game plan.  Holy moly ... I'm so glad I did!

Let it be noted that this recipe does require a couple of extra steps compared to just slow-cooking seasoned pork and then shredding it.  It requires that the pork be started on the stove top, then slow-cooked for a couple of hours in the oven, then broken up (while the cooking liquid reduces on the stove top), then combined with said reduced liquid and then broiled in the oven to finish.

But, I promise you that it is 100% worth it!  This recipe results in tender, juicy meat that is super flavorful and caramelized.  Simply put ... it is pork perfection!  Everyone in our house loved this!   It's certainly something that I will make again ... many times over!