I committed a serious crime yesterday.
I went to Dollar Tree and bought ALL THE EASTER DECORATIONS.
Yeah, I know it’s not even Valentine’s Day.
The worst part is that I made a trip there just for Easter decorations. Because at some point, late Monday night, I watched Dollar Tree hauls on Youtube for 2 hours. Guys, I go to Dollar Tree, like, twice a year so how did I stay up until 3 am watching people talk about what they bought there?
I really have no idea how these things happen to me.
And yeah, when those kinds of things pop up on your recommended videos list and you wonder “What kind of weirdo cares about what people buy at Dollar Tree/the grocery store/Michaels/etc.?”
It’s me. I’m that weirdo.
I also spend an obscene amount of time watching nail polish swatch videos which is literally watching paint dry. So… yeah.
Anyway, I now have a ginormous bag of brightly colored Easter decorations in my pantry that I can’t use for, I don’t know, 2 months? All because some girl on Youtube told me that Dollar Tree had Easter decorations.
In other exciting news, we had lettuce wraps for dinner! We have lettuce wraps once a week but I’ve just been doing these because they take 15 minutes to prepare or we do bacon and tomato for kind of a BLT feel, so it was nice to have “fancy” lettuce wraps.
The carnitas (just an inexpensive pork shoulder covered in spices) are cooked in the slow cooker all day and then at the very end, you bake them to get them crispy. But really, you could skip the baking step if you were starving when you walked through the door. Then you just pile a bunch of meat on a lettuce leaf and top with avocado, salsa, chopped onions, cilantro, whatever you want.
This is something the kids like too, but I’ll put it in a tortilla or a hard taco shell or just serve it alongside rice for them.
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Crockpot Carnitas Lettuce Wraps
adapted from Mark's Daily Apple
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 5 pieces
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- dash of cinnamon
- 1 bay leaf
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon. Rub this mixture on the pork shoulder pieces and place in your slow cooker. Add bay leaf, garlic, and sliced onion.
- Cook on low about 8 hours (or high for 4) or until it's very easy to shred. Remove and shred. Toss with the cooking liquid.
- Preheat oven to 400F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment. Remove the meat to the baking sheet and cook for about 10 minutes until the carnitas are crispy.
- Serve in lettuce leaves with salsa, avocado, cilantro, chopped onions, and any other desired toppings.
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[email protected] says
Beautiful and fresh ingredients! Love everything about these lettuce wraps. We love all your pictures and recipes and would love to have you share your pictures with us at foodieportal.com.
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
Wow, there’s already Easter creep going on! My problem is, if I buy stuff early, I put it away and totally forget about it when the holiday actually does roll around!
Love that recipe – such simple everyday ingredients!
Amy @Very Culinary says
Dollar Tree is such a racket – you only think you’re getting a good deal…until you spend $200 on plastic objects. Or so I’ve heard *cough* The wraps look awesome!
miranda @lemonsandlaughs says
I am not a youtube watcher, but my husband is. I cannot tell you how many times a week I have to ask, “What the heck are you watching over there??”. I do get lost on Wikipedia often. I will be looking up a recipe on Google and the next thing I know I am reading about the top ten serial killers who are free. {travel tip: avoid South America}.
As for decorations, I wait until the days AFTER a holiday and stock up on the 90% decor at Target and craft stores. I also buy tons of holiday themed chocolate because it is also on sale, but don’t tell the kids!
Nancy [email protected] says
I have to admit I rarely watch yt videos on the other hand I can’t get enough of the dollar store! Totally adding these to our meal plan next week!
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says
Hahahaha!! You are cracking me up! Everyone knows the dollar store has the best holiday decorations! ;) These lettuce wraps look amazing!
Kim Beaulieu says
Um, I searched gifs on pinterest the other night, then spent about 4 or 5 hours laughing my butt off. The hooligan got up for school and I was just sitting on the couch giggling like a 2 year old. If only I had lettuce wraps to munch on while I was giggling. Must try immediately. I like easy. Easy is my jam. Leaves more time for watching ridiculous things on the interwebs.
Deb @ Cooking on the Front Burner says
I love the fresh ingredients in this dish! You are too funny but are now prepared :-)
Annie @Maebells says
I actually already have carnitas in the crock pot for dinner tonight! I never thought to do a lettuce wrap version! We have carnitas like twice a month so I am definitely trying this! It will be a great switch up!
Amy (Savory Moments) says
We love carnitas and this version looks great! I love that you made them it the slow cooker, too – even better!
Jocelyn @Inside BruCrew Life says
What? Easter decorations are out already? I must go…my closet hoarding self feels the urge to get more fun things!!! And lettuce wraps are awesome!!! These look so good!
Miranda @ Cookie Dough & Oven Mitt says
haha! I also get sucked into weird youtube hauls. At least you’re well prepared for Easter! These lettuce wraps are calling my name. If only someone else liked greens as much as I do, we could have these for dinner.
Marissa says
I saw your Dollar Tree Easter haul on IG – very nice. ;) I LOVE carnitas, but haven’t made lettuce wraps with it. Great idea!
Kate @ Diethood says
LOL!! I went to the Dollar Store yesterday and bought all the CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS! They were 25-cents a piece!! I’m ready for December, again. :-D I’ve never watched these DT hauls, but now I’m tempted.
So I thought wraps couldn’t get any more delicious! These look so dang goooooood and simple.
Stephanie @ Back for Seconds says
You would get along very well with my kids. They watch the most boring you tube videos and are just enthralled, haha!
These look fantastic – I LOVE slow cooker meals!
Heather | girlichef says
Pretty sure you are the smart one – before you know it, Easter will be here and you’ll have all sorts of fun props and decorations ready while everybody else is scrambling! And yeah, I need these lettuce wraps in my life. We are Carnitas freaks, and I just love the freshness of these.
Nutmeg Nanny says
While I can say I have never watched Dollar Tree hauls on YT I will admit that I have seen my husband watch sports card unwrappings on YT. I’m not even kidding – they call it box breaking. Sigh. However, at least now you have good Easter decorations and you won’t have to worry about them being picked over by the time you need them. I’m totally digging this meal as well. I love the fresh lettuce spin and anytime I can use the slow cooker I’m a happy girl.
Beth says
Girl, you are totally ahead of the game! And these wraps, I need to put on our menu, they look so fresh!