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Summer of Salads: A Different Taco Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:00:50 -0700

In the past week, San Francisco's seen some of the hottest days of the year. Which is why when a friend came over for lunch, I suggested we make a big, chilled salad with a cooling dressing to top it off. I chose taco salad: not the traditional kind with a fried tostada bowl and ground beef, but a lighter, meatless version with a creamy cilantro, cucumber, and avocado dressing.

The salad turned out beautifully. It has vibrantly hued ingredients, each neatly chopped, in contrasting layers. I especially enjoyed the flavors and textures - like buttery avocado, smoky cumin, and crispy chips - without any of the grease. Leftover chopped ingredients make for a wonderful next meal, and you can vary the dish. Remove the cheese to turn it vegan, or add grilled skirt steak if you're a meat lover. Savor a different taco salad when you read more

Would You Eat This Taco Salad?

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:50:10 -0700

While it's true that airlines have recently expanded their food offerings, the airport still dominates the market when it comes to travel meals. But - like Party and I witnessed during last year's trip to Aspen - airport food often falls incredibly flat. During recent travels, I experienced something similar when I ordered what I expected to be a taco salad, only to be greeted by a heaping pile of white rice, stringy chicken, overcooked corn, and wilted cilantro. Although I was starving, I was also completely grossed out, and tossed my takeout after just a few bites. Does this bowl of overcooked matter look like something you'd be willing to eat?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey and Black Bean Tostadas

partysugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:50:48 -0700

Tonight, serve your family a meal that comes together in minutes. This tostada recipe is great because it's full of flavor and texture. There's a satisfying crunch thanks to the tostada base, a crispness from the filling black bean and corn salad, and richness provided by the cheddar cheese and sour cream. Although the ingredients are classic Tex-Mex, the extra veggies make it healthier than nachos. The recipe calls for turkey, but feel free to substitute shredded chicken or ground meat. For the wildly simple method, read more.

Turkey and Black Bean Tostadas
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

3-1/2 ounces roast turkey, from the deli counter, finely diced (3/4 cup)
¼ cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons fresh corn kernels or thawed frozen corn
1 small ripe tomato, finely diced
Juice of 1 lime (about 1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon chipotle sauce or hot sauce, to taste
¼ cup shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup plain reduced-fat sour cream
2 flat corn tostada shells, such as Bearitos brand
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
1 tablespoon snipped chives (optional)

Directions

In a bowl, combine the turkey, black beans, corn, tomato, lime juice, chipotle sauce and cheese.
Pack the turkey mixture, sour cream, tostadas, lettuce and chives separately until ready to use. To serve, spread some sour cream on each tostada. Top each tostada with some of the turkey mixture, lettuce and chives.

Serves 2.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Turkey Taco Salad

partysugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:45:38 -0700

Taco salad is one of my guilty pleasure foods. When I'm alone at my parents' house, I like to make a large one and enjoy it for several meals.

This divine variation features ground turkey mixed with a store made salsa. The recipe calls for zucchini and bell pepper, but if you prefer eggplant and squash, use those instead.

To make a vegetarian version replace the ground turkey with canned beans. Sound tasty? Get the recipe: read more.

Turkey Taco Salad
From Everyday Food magazine

Ingredients

4 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
1 pound ground turkey
1 small zucchini, diced
1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, diced
1 1/2 cups prepared green salsa
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 heads Boston lettuce, leaves separated
1 1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips
1 cup small cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup shredded cheese, such as white cheddar or Monterey Jack (about 4 ounces)

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook, stirring often, until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add turkey; cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add zucchini, bell pepper, and 1 cup salsa; cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and ground pepper. Transfer to a plate, and let cool.
In a large bowl, toss lettuce with tortilla chips, tomatoes, and remaining 1/2 cup salsa and 2 tablespoons oil.Transfer to serving plates, and top with turkey mixture and cheese.

Serves 6.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Layered Taco Salad

partysugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:01:31 -0700

Whenever I want a hearty salad for dinner, I make a taco salad. Packed with tons of veggies, beans, and cheese, taco salads are divine and filling. This vegetarian version is served layered in a glass dish, almost like a trifle. The presentation is mouth-watering and the salad is delicious. The dressing is an interesting mix of guacamole, sour cream, and chili powder. Serve this salad with your favorite tortilla chips and cold Coronas. If you want the recipe, read more.

Layered Taco Salad
From Better Homes and Garden magazine

Ingredients

1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
1/4 cup sliced green onion
1 6-ounce carton frozen avocado dip, thawed
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1 4-ounce can chopped green chili peppers, drained
1 tablespoon milk
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Chopped tomato (optional)
2 cups coarsely crushed tortilla chips

Directions

In a 2-1/2-quart glass salad bowl layer black beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, olives, and onion.
For dressing, in a medium bowl stir together avocado dip, sour cream, chili peppers, milk, garlic, and chili powder. Spread over the top of the salad. If desired, sprinkle with chopped tomato.
Before serving, toss salad together and serve over crushed tortilla chips.

Serves 4

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Would You Rather Eat Nachos or Taco Salad?

partysugar — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:18:33 -0800

Source and Source

Photos of Vegetarian Layered Taco Salad

YumSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:30:56 -0700

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Shrimp Cocktail With a Taco Kick

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:30:13 -0700

Until I discovered this recipe, I'd never considered eating raw corn off the cob. But since devouring these chile-rubbed shrimp with avocado-corn salsa, I've been adding raw corn to all of my salads. Now that you're a pro at cutting corn off the cob, try enjoying Summer's sweet bounty in a spicy shrimp taco.

Though the recipe is designed as a shrimp cocktail, I rolled up the salsa and shrimp in warm corn tortillas and served it with a side of black beans. The chile rub is richly decadent but not fiery, and it's easy to make on any type of indoor grill though I used a stove-top grill pan. Don't let the ingredient list intimidate you, either. Because the shrimp and salsa can be prepared in advance, this can be a fast and easy dinner, perfect for Summer nights. So try it for yourself.

The Basics: Pico de Gallo

partysugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:00:34 -0700

During the Spring and Summer, you can almost always find the ingredients for pico de gallo in my fridge. This delightful Mexican condiment has a fresh tomato base and is flecked with raw onions and minced jalapeno. Just-squeezed lime juice adds a refreshing tartness. If I have cilantro, sometimes I'll stir that in, too.

To simply enjoy the pure flavor of pico de gallo, serve as a dip with crunchy tortilla chips. Or use the versatile mix in a number of creative ways. Place on top of grilled fish or steak. Stir into a salad of mixed greens or fold with cooked couscous. Toss with shredded chicken and you've got a quick filling for tacos or enchiladas frescos. Place in between soft tortillas with cheese and make quesadillas. Puree in the food processor for salsa.

See? The possibilities are endless. Get this recipe that you'll be making well into next Fall when you read more.

Pico de Gallo
From Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored, halved, and seeded (about 2 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup finely chopped white onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced, seeded jalapeno or serrano chiles (about 2 medium)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cut the tomatoes into 1/4-inch dice and place in a bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour for the flavors to blend.

Makes about 3 cups.

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Today's Special: Beef Burrito Skillet

partysugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:59:32 -0700

My mom, who I love dearly, does not cook. She rarely prepared us dinner when my siblings and I were younger, but when she did it was one of her simple specialties: chicken and pasta, pancakes, sloppy Joes, or tacos. My favorite of her meals was tacos. The fragrant smell of taco seasoning filled the air and I could help her by grating the orange cheese. Tonight's quick fix dinner recipe is an ode to these childhood taco nights with a twist. Instead of piling the filling into taco shells the beef gets mixed with beans and tortillas for a casserole like dish. Whether you eat it alone, or use it to top a salad or tortilla chips, this is one scrumptious Tex-Mex skillet meal. You know you want the recipe so read more

Beef Burrito Skillet
From Kraft Foods

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) taco seasoning mix
1 can (19 oz.) kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup Mexican style tomato salsa, either homemade or store bought
1 cup water
4 flour tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1-1/2-inch squares
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 cup pepper jack cheese
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup chopped green onions (about 1 large)

Brown meat in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain.
Add seasoning mix, beans, salsa and water; stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min.
Stir in tortillas; top with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted, alternately slide skillet (if oven proof) under the broiler for a few minutes until cheese is bubbly, melted, and crisp.
Top with sour cream and onions.

Serves 4.

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