The Bakers are always on the go! Whether it is leisure or tied to extracurricular activities, this family knows how to travel.
Chris Baker is an Army Airborne Veteran, technical educator, and former manufacturing manager. He has the most extensive travel experience, with five of the seven contents under his belt.
April Baker is a supply chain management professional and loves being the mother to Tori, the couple’s adult daughter who lives in Birmingham and works in healthcare, and Blake, who is 15.
“Blake is our reason for running around. He is our super active teen son who plays basketball, soccer, and golf,” April shared. “We enjoy following and watching Blake play sports, whether a travel or school team.
We have created vacations around soccer and basketball tournaments and find those amazing and fun to celebrate with other families. We especially enjoy exploring new destinations on yearly cruises with them and have created quite a friendship.”
The family enjoys both domestic and international travel. They find visiting and learning new cultures and traditions fascinating.
“Church and spirituality are important to us,” April said. “We attend Embrace Church in Auburn, where the leadership and congregants are always welcoming and friendly. It’s a wonderful place to worship.”
When the family isn’t juggling their crazy busy work and sporting schedule, spending time together is super important to them. They are huge Auburn fans, as well as NFL and NBA fans, so you can often find them cheering for their favorite teams all year long.
“Monopoly is a family favorite board game,” said April. “However, it is not unheard of for us to create our own game simply to have something to compete for when the mood hits.”
Typically, take-out or partially prepped meals are a weeknight staple for the Baker trio. A family favorite is Mexican food, and this includes an easy steak taco recipe that even Blake has mastered.
“Blake can resemble a Renaissance man in the making because when he is in charge of creating this meal for the family, he chooses New York Strip over sirloin for a more refined flavor profile,” April shared. “Blake has also developed a gift for seasonings and making sauces. He is on the money on the rare occasions when he cooks for us.”
Steak Tacos
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds of flank steak or sirloin steak
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon each cumin and paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8–12 small corn or flour tortillas
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 avocados, diced
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, or your choice)
- Lime wedges
Instructions:
- First, prepare the steak. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the steak.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the steak for about 4–6 minutes per side, or until it reaches your desired doneness.
- Remove the steak from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Warm your tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat, or wrap them in foil and heat in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes.
- Assemble your tacos. Slice the steak into thin strips. To each warm tortilla, add steak slices and desired toppings.
- Serve with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the taco. Serve with rice and black beans. Lime Cilantro Rice
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
- 3 c. water or chicken broth (for extra flavor)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (about 1 large lime)
- Zest of 1 lime
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Optional: Lime wedges for serving
Instructions:
- In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the rice and stir for 1-2 minutes, to lightly toast it.
- Add the water or broth and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 15-18 minutes, or until the rice has absorbed the liquid and is tender.
- Once the rice is done cooking, remove it from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.
- Stir in the fresh lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro. Mix well to ensure the rice is evenly coated with the lime and cilantro.