Unfortunately there is a significant amount of risk involved when trying new Pinterest recipes several times a week. Tonight, the odds were not in my favor. I had planned a dinner where my family could build their own burrito bowl just like Hot Heads and Chipotle. The barbacoa beef recipe for the Crock Pot was a complete flop and one ingredient (my guess was the apple cider vinegar) gave each bite a bitter taste. I even tried piling more toppings on to cover the flavor, but the intensity could not be tamed. I felt the need to post tonight anyway because cooking is a learning experience, even for the seasoned professional. There will be times when recipes don’t work out or maybe there was a measuring mishap, but that is the joy of cooking. It can be unpredictable at times, but you learn to roll with the punches and plan for next time. I have had several people tell me “So you’re a good cook ehh? Good job, you can read a recipe.” As you can imagine, this causes my cheeks to turn a very bright shade of red. Even when I find someone else’s recipe on Pinterest, my goal is to always add my own flair and make it my own.

The adorable menu display on the table was a gift from my boyfriend’s crafty sister Haven! She took an old picture frame and added in scrap book paper. A dry erase marker can be used on the outer glass surface for a perfect menu display. The picture is blurry, but I wrote the order of building the burrito bowls that is listed below.

Burrito Bowl Bar:

1. Steamed Rice: White or Brown (there are several recipes for the cilantro rice on Pinterest)
2. Beans: Pinto or Black
3. Meat: Barbacoa, Taco Meat, Steak, or Chicken
4. Sautéed peppers and onions
5. Queso cheese or Salsa
6. Not Displayed: Corn or Pico
7. Raw chopped onions, banana peppers, or jalapeños
8. Sauces: Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce or Ranch
9. Lettuce, shredded Mexican cheese, or sour cream

*Tortillas are optional to make all these ingredients into a burrito. I highly recommend steaming the tortilla to prevent cracking.