Cornmeal cakes, and slow-cooked shredded beef in a jammy tomato-onion sauce
Hi! I'm Sabrina. I spend my days working in fintech, but my true love language has always been cooking, baking, and hosting.
sabrinajpark
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June 22, 2026
We had company over this weekend: my son's first bestie and her mom.
I'd planned a picnic in the backyard, but instead of the usual sandwiches or charcuterie board, I wanted to serve something a little more fun. The idea was a Colombian-inspired meal the kiddos could build themselves, kind of like tacos.
I started with arepas because they're easy, delicious, and endlessly customizable. For the protein, I made Carne Desmechada with Hogao, tender shredded beef simmered in Colombia's signature tomato and scallion sauce.
Our friends brought corn and guac, and I added Plátanos Maduros (Baked Sweet Plantains) and fresh fruit to round everything out. Between the sweet plantains, juicy summer fruit, and build-your-own arepas, it felt like the perfect warm-weather spread.
As it turns out, Southern California had other plans. It was far too hot to linger outside without an umbrella, so now I know exactly what's next on my business-and-pleasure shopping list. (How cute is this one, btw?)
Anyway, here are the recipes. Buen provecho!
Sabri
Add all the ingredients into a crock pot.
Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
Once tender, remove the beef and shred it.
Strain off most of the liquid. You can reserve a little to keep the meat moist.
Add the avocado oil to a non-stick skillet and heat over medium.
Cook the green onions for 2 minutes until slightly softened.
Add the tomatoes, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick, jammy, and fragrant.
Hogao should look more like chunky sauce than a fresh salsa.
Combine the shredded beef with the Hogao (Tomato-Onion Sauce).
Season with salt and pepper, adjusting to your taste.
Add a few tablespoons of the crock pot cooking broth.
Assemble the Carne Desmachada (Shredded Beef) on top of the Arepas.
Option to add shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
Finish with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
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