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The alternate title for this post should be “The Snake, The Cat and the Visit to the ER or How I Missed Cinco de Mayo.” I was really looking forward to developing a new recipe for the holiday, which commemorates Mexico’s defeat of the French at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. Cinco de Mayo has become more of a holiday in the United States than in Mexico. It’s a big deal in the state of Puebla, but not so much in other areas of Mexico. Here in Southern California it is huge, primarily because everyone likes to go out and throw back a few margaritas and feast on Mexican food. Like St. Patrick’s Day it really is just another excuse to go out for a drink with friends. Not there is anything wrong with that…
Achiote-Orange Carnitas Tacos
While preparing my carnitas I happened to glance out the window into the back yard and saw my cat Cece with an obvious look of a predator ready to kill. Kind of like in this picture…
Cece the Cat
I had no idea what she may have cornered, but last week my two cats hunted a mole, a few dozen lizards and a couple of birds. Except for the birds, everyone escaped more or less unharmed. I went outside to ward off any more carnage and saw this:
WARNING! IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF SNAKES SCROLL PAST THIS PICTURE
My Backyard Gopher Snake
Growing up in this house, reptile of all sorts were always around so I have no fear of them. I do have enough sense to stay away from the dangerous ones, such as rattlesnakes, but this one seemed more scared of the cats then anything. And since I got close enough to take this picture I was also close enough to hear that unmistakable sound if it was a rattlesnake. But since this snake looked to be a good 3 feet long, I decided to get the cats out of harms way and put them in the house. Those rocks around the snake are boulders, each 4 -5 feet tall, so that gives you an idea of the size of the snake. I scooped up one cat and threw her in the house, and went back for Cece. She apparently wanted to stay outside and play with the snake because she went from being a sweet and gentle cat to this:
My Sweet Kitty Turned into Warner Bros. Taz
One arm shredding later, I had to go to the ER for my puncture wounds and subsequent infection. I had “Cat Scratch Fever” and not in the way Ted Nugent meant. (I am dating myself with that reference!) Bandages, swollen hand, no computer, must rest hand, etc. etc. = no Cinco de Mayo carnitas. I have now learned that if I see Cece the cat corner a snake again she is on her own! Now, on to the recipe…
I love carnitas, which make perfect sense as I love pork from the ears to the tail. Carnitas usually starts with pork shoulder or butt, which is a cut marbled with rich fat. The meat is well seasoned, then slow cooked in lots of pork fat. Yes that’s right, it is covered in LARD and cooked on low heat until tender. The heat is then raised so the outside of the pork caramelizes, making a crispy outside and a tender. juicy inside. As I do not keep that much lard in my house (though I see nothing wrong with having that much) I decided to braise the meat until tender then quickly roast it to caramelize the outside. This technique works just as well, and tastes just as good. Serve your carnitas with warm corn tortillas, salsa, avocado, fresh cilantro, pinto or
