Taco Tuesdays - Tri-Tip Version

Mornings in our house are extremely busy, even more hectic than our evenings, I think.  We have four people trying to squeeze in showers in the allotted amount of time, I of course need my 15 minutes of coffee/wake-up in my chair time, lunches to prepare and I try to get a couple loads of laundry done, so it is not overwhelming on the weekends with trying to fold 37 loads.

Well today was no different and just as crazy.  As I was in the kitchen tidying up (because my OCD kicks in and I hate coming home to a messy kitchen) and cleaning the counters off, I hear one daughter yell from her room, "Mom, will you please make me a cappuccino to go ?" Not two seconds go by and the other one yells, "And could you please toast me a bagel with butter?"

I looked at my husband in dismay and said, "Does this look like Starbucks drive-thru to you?" Since when did I become their personal Barrista???

The Princesses' personal cappuccino machine.

Since my Barrista mornings are so busy, I try to plan the dinner menus a week ahead of time and use my crock pot as much as possible.

This taco meat is so easy, juicy and flavorful!!!  Best part...it's all ready to go when you walk in the door from a long day at work.

Prep before leaving for the day.

Awesome dinner when you arrive home.

Ultimate Tri-Tip Tacos

2-3 lbs. Tri-Tip steak
1 or 2  jars favorite salsa (depending on your size of steak)

Put tri-tip in crock pot.  Empty both jars of salsa over meat.  Cover crock pot with lid.  Set to low setting and let cook 8-10 hours.

When ready to eat, shred the beef with two forks (like you are making shredded pulled pork), in crock pot.
Serve on flour or corn tortillas with your favorite accompaniments.

**Also really delicious if you want to do a taco salad with or without a flour tortilla bowl.

Greek Salsa Chicken and Greek Movie Afternoon

I have finally recovered from yesterday's triple play (football, golf balls and baseballs).  My husband warned me...he gave me the rundown of what sports were going to be on t.v. ALL DAY Sunday.  Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.....AGH!!!  It started with 11:00 am Seahawk game.  They lost.  I didn't see a minute of the game, but believe me....I know they lost.  The reason I know they lost, is because you could hear my husband yelling at the referees, the teams, the fans and anyone else on t.v. he could see, for hours.

He was so revved up, he went outside after the game to tear out the garden that froze over last week. (At least I got out of doing it, and didn't have to do any more gardening).  Then it was golf and The Presidents Cup.  This was much calmer, since our country took the win - thank goodness!!  I did catch some of the golf match though.  I couldn't pass up seeing my boyfriend, Phil Mickelson for a few rounds. (Don't worry, my husband knows).

Then, the Dodgers game started at 5:00 pm. I had enough at this point.  It was time for me to go upstairs to fold the 13 loads of laundry that I did over the weekend while I catch an afternoon movie.  I was glad I did, because the Dodgers did not start out strong and it was sounding ugly downstairs.  At one point I thought I was going to have to go out and pick up an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for my husband.  Why do men get so emotional about sports, on t.v. nonetheless?  Here's a newsflash men:  They can't hear you through the television!!!

At any rate, I love movies.  I love to watch and get lost in movies.  I have so many favorite movies, it has become a joke in my family.  We will be surfing through the channels and I see one of my favorite titles and want to watch it immediately.  My husband says, "but you have seen that fifty times"  My reply, "I don't care, it doesn't matter."  Yet why is it he gets to watch Kelly's Heroes, I can't tell you how many times, as I have lost count.

Today, one of my favorites was on this afternoon.  My Big Fat Greek Wedding.  I absolutely love this movie and I am here to tell you, since I was actually in my college roommate's Greek wedding, this movie is spot on.  I laugh and cry through it every (68 times) I have watched.  If you have not seen this movie yet, add it to your bucket list.

Of course, watching the movie got me in the mood for Greek food.  This meal is one of my go-to dinners.  It is full of wonderful Mediterranean flavors.  I add capers to it, because anything that I can add capers to, makes husband oh so happy and after the sports day he had, he needed a little happiness.

Greek Salsa Chicken
Adapted from Cuisine At Home, April 2009 Issue

For The Salsa - 
4 oz. Crumbled Feta Cheese
1 Cup halved Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
1/4 Cup Pitted Kalamata Olives
1/4 Cup Minced Fresh Parsley
1/4 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Oregano
3 Tbsp. Capers, drained

For The Chicken - 
(6) Skinless, Bone-In Chicken Breast Halves
Salt and Pepper
2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
(2) Lemons, cut into wedges

For The Wife - 
2011 Dead Bolt Winemaker's Blend from California

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine feta, tomatoes, olives, parsley, lemon juice, 1/4 cup olive oil, oregano and capers for the salsa in a large bowl.  Cover and chill salsa.

Saute chicken pieces in 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large roasting pan over medium-high heat until chicken is browned on skin-side.  Turn over chicken.

Squeeze lemon wedges over chicken to coat with lemon juice, then nestle squeezed lemon wedges around chicken breasts.  Roast until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees, about 30 minutes.

Transfer chicken and lemons to a large platter; top with salsa.   "OPA" !!