Chalupas!

I can't tell if this will look good to any of you, but with the smell of seasoned pork still heavy in the air, it looks great to me!

Chalupas were on our menu tonight. Arizona has so many wonderful members of the church, especially the relief society sisters. That's where this recipe came from. Every 6 weeks we hold zone conferences with each group of missionaries. The meetings begin early in the morning and end around 1:00. By that time 40-45 starving 19-22 year-olds file out into the multi-purpose room for lunch. Each time, a group of relief society sisters has a feast waiting for them-with dessert. Sister Peggy Merrell from the Mesa Kimball East Stake was kind enough to share this recipe from a lunch a couple of weeks ago. This was our first time trying it, and what a hit!

3 lb. Pork roast

4 cups beans -Soak overnight

1 medium onion (chopped)

2 cans diced green chilies

3 TBSP. Chili powder

2 cloves garlic, (minced)

2 tsp. Oregano

2 tsp. Cumin

Salt to taste (add at the end to prevent beans hardening)

Combine all ingredients and cover with water. Cook (covered) in a 300 degree oven for 4-6 hours. Check occasionally for water, and add more if necessary. Shred meat and add back to beans. *The older your dried beans are, the longer this will need to cook. We made ours in a crock pot.

Serve this meat mixture over a bed of Fritos corn chips; and add any of these toppings: grated cheese, chopped lettuce, chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, black olives, salsa, hot sauce.

These lunches are great all around. The missionaries love being together. The sisters, many of them mothers of missionaries serving somewhere else in the world, love to serve them. At the conclusion of the lunch, the sisters share a recent experience they've had sharing the gospel. It lifts the spirits of the missionaries to know the members are out doing there part. They in turn lift the spirits of the sister by singing Called To Serve. I wish you could be there!