My crockpot is one of my kitchen BFFs. I actually have four of them; two large ones for full meals and two small ones for entertaining. It’s like having a sous chef in the kitchen while you’re at work. You just come home and Poof!…the house smells fantastic and dinner is done. Like magic!

I love to find different and flavorful recipes to use in the crockpots, like this Cuban Ropa Vieja. Then, I love to share those recipes with you. I’m all about making your life easier. I’m good like that. It gives us extra time for more important things, like family, the pets, and drinking the rest of the bottle of wine from this recipe. We CANNOT have leftover wine. Ever. It’s a law somewhere I’m positively sure. Now you KNOW I love you right? See there, I have only your best interest at heart. I’m keeping you out of trouble. Bail can get expensive. Not like I would personally know about that. See how this works? ❤

Cooking is a labor of love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. A good crockpot sure makes that a lot easier to do. I mean, who doesn’t love a little lot of wine and a little kitchen magic? Now, if only I can find a crockpot that cleans.

Cuban Ropa Vieja for the Crockpot

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. bacon, roughly chopped
• 2 lb. flank steak
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 green pepper, thinly sliced
• 6 oz. tomato paste
• 1 tbsp. cumin
• 1 tbsp. dried thyme
• 1 tbsp. dried oregano
• 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 2 cups beef or chicken stock
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup halved, pitted green olives
• 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
• ¼ cup roughly chopped cilantro
• 1 avocado, diced

          

Directions:

Render bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer to a plate, leaving fat in pot. Season steak with salt and pepper. Sear on high heat until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes each side; transfer to plate. In your crockpot blend tomato paste, wine, stock, cumin, thyme, oregano, garlic, and bay leaf.  Add bacon and steak. Top with peppers and onion. Spoon some of the tomato mixture on top of the meat and vegetables. Set your crockpot on low for 8-10 hours. When done, shred meat using forks. Serve with olives, vinegar, Cilantro and Avocado. 

*I like to add black beans, rice and warm tortillas on the side.

Life is too short to eat ugly food. Bon Appetit’ Y’all!