Poteet Strawberry Festival

This weekend is the Poteet Strawberry Festival! April 3-5. Check out their website at: www.strawberryfestival.com for information. But I recommend it to anyone! If you can go on Friday night, definitely try for that night because admission on Friday's is FREE (other dates children 12 & under are free)! There is SO much to walk around and see and the kids love it!

Just Like Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

Add this to Ann-Marie's post below and you have yourself a Mexican fiesta people.

2 pounds pork (we use boneless pork rib meat)
3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
1/4 c. brown sugar
dash garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 can sliced green chilies
3/4 can enchilada sauce (I use Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness but any will work)
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a heavy duty ziploc bag to marinade. Add about a can and a half of coke and about 1/4 c. of brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight.

Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours (or until it shreds easily, but don't let it get TOO dry) or on low for 8 hours. Remove pork from crock pot and drain any liquid left in the pot. Shred pork.

In a food processor or blender, blend 1/2 can Coke, chilies, enchilada sauce and remaining brown sugar (about a cup, you can add a little more or less to taste..). If it looks too thick, add more Coke little by little.

Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot and cook on low for 2 hours. That's it!

We've made this a couple of times and it's delicious. I got this recipe and other Cafe Rio ones from here.

The best Cafe Rio...next to the real thing

Disclaimer: This is not my recipe, it is Jan's. However I beat her to posting it! It is fabulous and feeds a ton of people. (or the same people over and over again! :))

Café Rio Dressing
1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet
1 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. milk
2 tomatillos (tomato like vegetable with a husk around them)
½ bunch of cilantro-stems included
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 pepper (jalapeño or poblano, or serano.)
Use a food processor to blend all the ingredients well. Refrigerate.

Cafe Rio Rice
4 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
2 c rice
Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes.

Cafe Rio Chicken-a couple of pounds of chicken (breasts, tenders, whatever)
1 can of Coca Cola
1 c. brown sugar
3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp. cumin
Put it all in the Crockpot together and let it go for 6 hours or so. Then shred it with a fork and let it sit in the juice another hour.

Serve with FRESH tortillas, lettuce, guac., tomatoes, tortilla strips, or anything else yummy and delicious!

Cooking

Anyone up for some recipe swaps? I'm needing something new to try!!!

$5 Baby Sale at Old Navy

Old Navy has marked all of their baby clothes down to $5! I picked this cute dress and a matching blue cardigan for my soon-to be-niece. These aren't last season's winter clothes. There are adorable dresses, short sleeved shirts, etc. It only goes up to size 18-24 mos. Oh, and of course, there was way more girl stuff than boy stuff. So for those of you with little ones, get shopping! It ends this week.

Kids Day in the Park

Hey everyone. Here is another upcoming event for the whole family and it's free.

San Pedro Springs Park (1315 San Pedro)
April 18, 2009 10 am to 2 pm

Kids Day in the Park is an annual event dedicated to the children of our city and has grown into one of the largest childrens events in San Antonio. The event includes members of the childcare, health, cultural, and social service communities, along with entertainment and food for the families. There will be informational and entertainment booths with free, fun activities appropriate for young children, birth to ten years of age. The event will be held rain or shine, we hope to see you out there!

They may still be looking for volunteers also. If you are interested in volunteering here is the information.

There are four volunteer shifts:
Morning Volunteer Shift: 6:00 am to 9:00 am
set up tables, set up booths
Mid Day Shift: 8:30 am. to 11:00 am
serve food, assist booths
Early Afternoon Shift: 10:30 am. to 1:00 pm.
serve food, assist booths
Afternoon Shift: 12:30 pm. to 4:00 pm.
take down booths and tables

iFlip video camera at woot! Don't miss it.

Hey everyone there is a great portable video camera on woot.com. It is called an iFlip they normally run for 150 without tax. They are selling for 92 that is including tax and shipping. It is a good price for the camera. I thought that I would share this info because this is a great video camera that you can take with you anywhere and it is easy to take out on those spur of the moments when our kids are doing something that we wished that we would have gotten on video. If you are interested you better hurry. These are very popular because they are easy to sync up to the computer, small easy to for travel and easy to use for web videos. So I hope you all enjoy.

SHOE SALE!

Shoes.com is having a "Saturday Sale" up to 75% off plus 20% if you use the code VISA or BFF09 and everything is FREE SHIPPING!!!! lots of cute shoes!!!

Response to the media

Most of us already have been informed or have heard of the t.v. show "Big Love" and what they are going to be airing on t.v about the Temple. I was very dissapointed when I found out what they were planing on doing and wondered what I coud do about it. In the following article it states what we as members should do. I thought I would share this with you guys and I know it has nothing to do with the playgroup but we can all learn from this.

Public Affairs Representatives:

Many of you will see or hear about the impending broadcast of LDS Temple ceremonies and exploitation of our sacred temple clothes by HBO "Big Love" this week. TV Guide will deliver an ad showing one of the "Big Love" polygamist wives dressed in full temple clothes. It is already circulating on the internet. As has been their practice, the creatives of "Big Love" hijack our customs and sacred symbols and misrepresent them in settings of their own making. Please be aware that the executives of HBO made a commitment to the LDS Church at the outset of "Big Love" that they would never desecrate our sacred rites or clothing in promotion or in their drama.Our Church leaders are fully informed and are considering whether to dignify the show with a response.The head writer of "Big Love" this season, is Dustin Black, the recent Oscar-winner for "Milk." Raised a Mormon, he is clearly versed in our culture.Brothers and Sisters, "Big Love" is not a ratings winner and we don't wish to build their ratings for them. TV Guide does not experience the readership it once had. Some of your friends and neighbors will see the images in print and see our temple ceremonies acted out in the drama. Perhaps the greatest position of strength for us, is to stand by our beliefs and teach the gospel. No, HBO does not represent accurately the sacred dress or beliefs or ceremonies of the LDS Church. Yes, like the Catholics, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists and many other faiths, we do have some sacred ceremonial clothing for our Temples.Our Temples are places where we unite our families forever. They are places where we go to learn the highest principles of character, honor, and devotion to God. THAT's what we can share with our neighbors and friends, and that kind of answer will no doubt....satisfy their questions.Unless otherwise directed, at this sensitive time, I suggest that Public Affairs leaders NOT urge response to the TV Guide ad, or to the HBO program.....and avoid increasing the show's ratings or attention.According to industry sources, "Big Love" will end this season.

Sincerely,

Sonja Eddings Brown

Media Specialist Southern California

Public Affairs Council

Also here's a really good article from the LDS. ORG NEWSROOM

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma

I posted the link instead of the article cause it's really long.
Please read it's really good!

"If the Church allowed critics and opponents to choose the ground on which its battles are fought, it would risk being distracted from the focus and mission it has pursued successfully for nearly 180 years. Instead, the Church itself will determine its own course as it continues to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world. "

30% Off Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic

Today through the weekend is the "Friends and Family Event" at these three stores where you can print one coupon for 30% off and use it as many times as you want at each store. I just got back from Old Navy where I got some cute stuff for Kyle for cheap including a shirt that looks like this but in a different color for two dollars and something cents. I just realized I don't know how to post the coupon here, so I'll email it out! 

p.s. 5% of your purchase goes to charity!

Dresses

I just wanted to let all you mommies know that Walmart has some really cute dresses on sale. They are on sale for $4 to $6. The sizes range from newborn to 4T I think, I didn't see any bigger sizes than that. So if your little girls need a new summer dress go check it out.

Luminaria

I just wanted to let you all know about an event going on around town next weekend.

Luminaria is San Antonio’s annual day- and evening-long celebration featuring more than 40 non-profit organizations and several hundred artists and performers representing every major discipline in the arts from dance, theater, poetry readings, and music to painting, sculpture, film, and multi-arts projects.
The downtown celebration is free and open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. at downtown’s Alamo Plaza with more events taking place throughout San Antonio. There will be free parking available for the downtown celebration.

The free parking is only at certain places and on a first come first serve basis. The links on the webiste tell you the locations and show maps. Also a calendar of events was supposed to be available yesterday but I still can't open it. If anyone has any luck please let me know. Bill and I will probably go to dinner before hand and we welcome anyone who wants to join us. We will be finalizing our plans sometime this next week.

I hope some of you get to enjoy this cause I know we will!

Sit and Knit Group!

Hi All! I have talked to a few people about starting a Knitting and Crochet Group, but before I set up the first meeting I wanted to hear what nights work best? I was thinking either the 4th Thursday or maybe a Tuesday or Wednesday night? Or just leave a message if you want to be added to the email list. The first meeting will be at the end of the month at my apartment.

I am a beginning K/C and have really enjoyed it since Ethan was born. It is a super cheap craft - around 2 dollars for a skein of yarn which can provide a month of entertainment! It is a great way to make homemade gifts for people. Come to the group if you are an experienced knitter or if you just want to learn how!

Emailing out...

Hey I just want to let you all know that I switched the email that we'll be working with. I signed us up for an account through google groups so that when we email to one, it emails out to all. THis is good for discussions like who can host or other things like that.

So if you want to email out to the whole group, use this email address:

leon-valley-playgroup@googlegroups.com

The other email that we have used only goes to me and then I have to forward it to everyone so let's use the new above email :)

Are you Missing a Book?

Thanks to everyone who came to playgroup last Wednesday at my house! I found a book titled, "Over the Meadow," in my book collection and don't recognize it. It has cute circle cut-outs and each page counts up to ten. Did anyone leave it?