Making Chipotle at Home

I've had plenty of time to blog all Summer but when I finally wanted to, we got rid of our internet. We got it back by being sneaky. I'll explain the how.


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Step 1: Prepare

I cook small pieces of chicken in taco seasoning and add some beans. Keep it on the burner on low if you want to keep it warm. We usually add cheese, rice, cilantro, diced tomatoes, guac, salsa, sour cream, and some cumin (though I forgot it this time). This made almost 30 small burritos, so try to get about that many tortillas. We usually use medium flour tortillas

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From what I hear, cable companies are part of an oligopoly, so they basically charge as much as they want. That was evidenced by our monthly internet bill doubling from $30/month to $60/month Just. For. Internet.


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Step 2: Prepare more

A large piece of wax paper taped to the counter is nice. It keeps food off your counter and your counter off of your food.

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Given our current frustration with having to pay lots of money for lots of things, and not being able to make as much as we'd like, we decided to live without internet. Merilee almost never uses the internet at home, and I can get free internet at school or even at church. It seems crazy to not have internet access but we figured that we'd make the sacrifice.

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Step 3: Get ready to wrap

If you're making a bunch to freeze, I recommend placing plastic wrap down before building each burrito. It makes it easy. It doesn't have to be the good kind that actually sticks because you're just packing it into the freezer.

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The biggest difficulty was not being able to do video calls on Sunday. Since I'm not back in school and use the internet a lot for tutorials, I was using my phone as a hotspot until my high speed data ran out. Eventually, we decided to try going back, but having me sign up for it this time instead of Merilee. Previously, when I tried to call to talk about our service, they couldn't speak to me because my name wasn't on the account. Well it worked. We're back at the year-long promotional rate of $30/month for another year.

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Step 4: Tortilla

No explanation needed. (not that you need any of these instructions anyways)

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So I'm back at working on projects. I'm nine chapters through a book I borrowed on programming in C++, I finished the Python course on Codecademy a while ago, I've finished some conceptual CAD models and some other things for my guided-rocket project (Edwina). Though I don't plan on using C++ or Python much, going through the book on the former and the course on the latter have really helped me to understand coding a lot better. In fact, a lot of the Arduino codes used to receive accelerometer data are actually legible now.

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Step 5: Protein

Don't overdo it if you're doing small burritos. They don't need a lot of meat and you still have lots to add before folding.

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Mer and I had a great visit up in the Bay Area last month. We were invited to a ball game with friends. It was the A's versus the Giants, which was great to see since they were the two big teams I grew up next to. Mer successfully surprised me and her sister at a surprise birthday party with lots of friends from the singles ward, our Hayward ward, and some family. Mer's oldest sister also gave us a bunch of her old food storage since she was moving. Now Merilee's youngest sister is the only family we have in the Bay Area. It could be a while before we return. Weird.

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Step 6: Cheese Please



If the chicken/bean mixture is still hot, it will melt together. This is an added benefit if you're eating any fresh.
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We've been in our current ward for just over a year now. Mer was recently called as the first counselor in the Primary. We're trying to prepare for scouts that starts up again in about a week. The program is somewhat different than last year, and we'll have less scouts in our den since we had a few age out over the Summer. It's been nice having a break, and we're hoping that this time it won't be so crazy. Someone the other day asked if we were still doing scouts because of the recent changes in policy. As far as I know, there haven't been any different instructions given to us, so it's business as usual until we hear otherwise.

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Step 7: Rice

Use whatever type of rice you'd like but make sure to season it. I usually don't even add salt to rice since I always have it mixed with something tasty and find salt flavoring unnecessary. Occasionally with these burritos, the inside isn't so homogeneous and you bite into a chunk of white flavorless rice.

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We got a new nephew last week. He was named Emmett Indiana (after the dog), and we're excited to see him at Christmas. Since the new baby, Mer and I have been thinking of some awesome names for our own eventual children. No, this isn't an announcement of anything. We're not pregnant. However, we did want to call dibs on the following names:



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Step 8: Tomatoes

Add them.

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-Armando Armadillo Ward                    -Shenaynay YesYes Ward 
-Cockatrice Crocodile Ward                   -LaFaunte Shaniqua Ward
-William (Billy) Goat Ward                   -Cadfael Wassail Ward
-Sheriah (from Sheralyn) Ward              -Mohammed Faheem Ward



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Step 9: Cilantro etc.

Feel free to add any desired spices. Just know that the chicken will have enough and it should really go on other things like the tomatoes and rice etc

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I hereby call dibs, even retroactively if you already had any of these names picked (whether first or middle) times infinity I win.

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Step 10: Getting to the good stuff

Add sour cream. You have to.

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Names can be hard to think of, so let us know if you need any ideas. The ones I listed were only our top picks but there were plenty others we wouldn't mind parting with.

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Step 11: Guac

You obviously want to add tons of this, but just make sure you don't run out too early or else half of your burritos won't actually be burritos.

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I almost forgot, I got a job at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Having said that, they instructed us in training to put disclaimers whenever mentioning the store.

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Step 12: Salsa

Some salsas can have a lot of juice. We don't want burrito soup when we reheat these things, so be careful.

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The content of this posting is the poster's own opinions and views and does not contain or reflect the opinions or views of Bed, Bath, & Beyond or its affiliates.

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Step 13: Folding time

I learned how to fold burritos the way I do from YouTube. I highly recommend you do the same even though I'm about to explain it. First, push the insides towards the middle by lifting up on the tortilla from nine o'clock and three o'clock.
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Though it has cut into my time for my many projects, I have been enjoying being able to work. I'm hoping this will be my last retail job, however. They started me pretty late in the Summer, which is too bad, because there's a strong possibility that I'll be leaving once school starts.

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Step 14: More folding

With the filling pushed inside from the left and right, take the tortilla from six o'clock and fold it over to 12 o'clock. Press the 12 and six o'clock lips together and slide the six o'clock lip down towards the center to wipe the filling back towards the middle. As you do so, the pocket inside will "fill up."

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Classes begin on the 21st again. I think it's weird that it was the same exact day last year. We start so late but it's all good. Things will definitely start going crazy once it hits so I'm excited yet apprehensive. I'm taking three classes, all of which are AERO (yes! a thousand times yes!)

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Step 15: Halfway done

Now there should be filling in the center of the burrito, but hopefully not spilling out from anywhere. Fold the right side in so that you have a straight edge on that side...

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There's Orbital Mechanics, which should be fun. Also the second quarter of Aerothermodynamics. That should also be very good. Lastly, there is a Controls class, which I'm not %100 sure about. I'm not even really sure what Controls will be like at all.

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Step 16: Keep going

... then do the same on the other side, holding it together.

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I will be the Vice President for the composites club. During the Fall, that doesn't involve too much, but there is some preparation and paperwork that needs to get done for events in the Winter and Spring. Sam and I were also going to get involved with the rocketry club. It will be nice having so many things to do.

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Step 17: Really? 17+ steps for a burrito?

To finish it off, roll the burrito over like it's rolling away from you. The lip at 12 o'clock should tuck under and your masterpiece is complete.

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I just wanted to pause here and say good job to those that have made it this far down. You're either awesome because you're reading burrito making instructions, reading an update, or reading both at the same time. You're awesome. Keep going. It's almost finished.

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Step 18: That's a wrap!

If you put down plastic wrap, it should be easy to do the rest without any spills or having it fall apart on you. However, even if it comes loose a little bit, it's no big deal.

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Next week I'm starting P90x again. I was interrupted during my last attempt by illness and it's taken me a while to get back into it. I was two thirds of the way through it :( Oh well. I think next week I'll actually just run and then start P90x after that. The church pants that Mer got me for Christmas are starting to feel tighter and that is not acceptable.

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Step 19: Cleanup?

I neglected to mention that I'm usually hungry when I make these, so I grab a spare tortilla and munch on it.

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The two pies she just took out of the oven probably won't help.

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Step 20: Snack

The extra tortilla also makes any spills easy and delicious to clean up.

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I should probably try to set a routine now anyways. That way, when school starts, I'll keep it going. My first class doesn't start until one in the afternoon. So, going for a run in the morning shouldn't be an issue.

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Finally
If you have a small T-Rex, feed it.

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Everyone enjoy your week and be safe!

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A place downtown by the library.
They probably sell crossbows.