Whether it’s in your head or written down somewhere, most of us have a list of those go-to recipes or meal ideas that are family favorites and pretty easy to put together, even at the last minute. 

Those meals have changed over the years to accommodate expanding palates palates and various dietary needs. Although some items will always be on the menu (like my grandmother's brisket!), now there’s a whole new crop of faves including zoodles with homemade pesto, shepherd’s pie and this recipe for crispy pork carnitas. 

Carnitas requires virtually no hands-on cooking time, makes lots of leftovers (cook once, eat twice!) and it’s the perfect accompaniment to a huge variety of vegetable side dishes which keeps the meal healthy, colorful, varied and interesting. 

Some year-round favorite sides include cabbage slaw, sautéed greens, fried plantains and the mandatory guacamole and salsa. In the spring we often add blanched sugar-snap peas or asparagus and in the summer we are all about fresh tomatoes and zucchini. 

Corn tortillas or the almond four tortillas from Siete Foods make the perfect wrap, and a little bit of freshly chopped cilantro is the perfect finishing touch.

You can have the leftovers for lunch in a salad or for breakfast with a fries egg on top. It’s super yummy the next day!

xo

Lisa