Carnitas and Charlotte’s homemade salsa

My friend Vicky Kirk asked for a recipe for pork carnitas and I am here to please. Carnitas are one of my favorite foods on the planet. Tender, juicy pieces of pork with a crispy outside that are perfect for tacos with all of your favorite taco toppings. Avocado and carnitas go very well together.

Pork Carnitas

4 pound boneless pork butt 1-1/2 tsp salt 3/4 tsp pepper 1 tsp ground cumin 1 onion, peeled and halved 2 bay leaves 1 tsp dried oregano 2 tbsp fresh lime juice 1 cup water 1 medium orange, juiced (keep the spent halves) Put all ingredients in a crockpot set on low for at least eight hours.

Charlotte’s Picante Sauce

4 cups tomatoes 1 bell pepper 1 onion 12-14 jalapeños 1/4 cup vinegar 2 tbsp Kosher salt or canning salt 1 can tomato sauce 4-6 cloves garlic Combine ingredients and simmer for 45 minutes. This is good with chips, of course, but we also ate it on beans and cornbread. Good stuff!

TWO MORE CASES, UP TO 73

From County Judge Steve Young early Wednesday morning: We have two more confirmed cases of the virus to report in Milam County.  This brings us to 73 total cases, 21 active, 70 being monitored and 2 hospitalized.    

MILAM CASE COUNT VAULTS TO 71

Seventy-one Milam County Judge Steve Young said over the noon hour Tuesday that three more cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Milam County. That makes eight cases on Tuesday alone, 13 in two days, for a total of 71.

WHERE WILL IT STOP? NOW 68 CASES

 From County Judge Steve Young early Tuesday morning: "Five new cases to report this morning. This brings us to 68 total confirmed cases, 21 active cases, 68 being monitored, 2 currently hospitalized. Lots of cases." There were also five new cases reported Monday morning.

CASE COUNT SOARS TO 63

From MIlam County Judge Steve Young early Monday morning: Since Saturday morning we have 5 more confirmed cases of the virus in the county.  63 confirmed cases, 19 active cases, 52 individuals being monitored and 1 still hospitalized.  In the last 8 days we have 15 new cases.

PLUS ONE: CASE COUNT 58

From Milam County Judge Steve Young early Saturday morning: This morning we have one new confirmed case in the County.  The person is self quarantined and will hopefully be okay.  We now have 58 confirmed cases; 15 active cases; 1 hospitalized and the medical department is monitoring 72 individuals.

57th CASE REPORTED

  From Milam County Judge Steve Young early Friday:   We have one more confirmed COVID-19 case to report. The person is self quarantined at home.

BODY FOUND IN ROCKDALE

    From Police Chief Jerrry Meadors on Thursday: On this date at 1:52 pm, the Rockdale Police dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a male hanging from a tree in the 100 block of Laura Street, Rockdale.