Showing posts with label salad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salad. Show all posts

Monday, May 20, 2013

The Perfect Taco Salad

Last week I was chatting with my sister-in-law Sarah, and she told me she and her boyfriend had been enjoying making taco salads lately.  Taco salads are one of my favorite things to get at a Mexican restaurant (that and chicken chimichangas...mmmmm), but I've never thought to make one at home.  After our conversation, I was inspired to make my own!

It was tasty, filling, packed full of veggies...and should be added to your dinner routine STAT.  Even better, since everyone gets their own, you can specialize them to their taste.  Love salsa? Double yours!  Hate tomatoes? Skip 'em!



Ingredients
2 pounds ground turkey
1 large onion
1 pepper (I used yellow)
8 ounces mushrooms
3/4 cup Taco seasoning
1-1.5 cups water
Refried Beans (1/2 cup per salad)
Shredded Lettuce (2 cups per salad)
Broccoli Slaw (1/4- 1/2 cup per salad)
Tomato, chopped
Shredded cheese
Salsa, Guacamole, Sour Cream etc
Garlic Powder
Olive Oil
Salt

Directions

Heat can of refried beans in a small pan.  Mix in some garlic powder and taco seasoning to give it a little extra flair.  Then make your taco meat.  We packed ours full of veggies.  The below makes about 6 cups.



1 - Chop your onion and pepper into small pieces and sauté in olive oil and salt.
2 - Brown ground turkey, strain, and return to pan.  Put mushrooms into food processor and pulse until they're fine.  Then add them to the turkey.
3 - Add in your sauteed onion and pepper.
4 - Add 3/4 cup taco seasoning and 1-1.5 cups water.

(The mushroom trick is one of my favorites we've been doing for a long time - it's a great way to lighten up ground beef!)

Now it's time to layer your taco salad!  I decided to use a deeper bowl so I could move things around easily, but this also works well in a soup bowl.  It's kind of fun if the bowl is clear so you can see the pretty layers!




Here's the salad I made, from bottom to top:

2 cups shredded lettuce
1/4 cup broccoli slaw (give is a crunch!)
1 small tomato, sliced
1/2 cup refried beans
1 cup taco meat mixture
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1 Tablespoon sour cream

Travis added a layer of salsa, but you could also add guacamole, olives...or anything else your heart desires!

Travis also crumbled up some chips on top of his salad - everyone can do their own thing AND enjoy the same dinner!



YUM.

What are your favorite taco toppings?


Saturday, February 2, 2013

Favorite Blogs of the Week

Happy Saturday!  Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!  I'm excited for a fun dinner with some friends at a super swanky restaurant, 80 Thoreau, tonight.


Without further ado, here are a few of my favorite blogs from the week.

Awesome food blogger and friend, Emily at Emylogus, posted a recipe for Brazilian Cheese Bread that made my mouth water.  This recipe also uses tapioca flour, so it's gluten free!
Get the recipe


This recipe from Iowa Girl Eats is seriously one of the most delicious looking meals ever.  Avocado, Mozerella and Bruschetta Chicken topped with a Balsamic Glaze - omg.  As soon as husband gets back from Florida...it's on the menu.
Seriously...don't you feel the need to make this NOW?
Everyday Occasions is hosting a Valentine's Day dinner for her friends (how sweet!) and has been brainstorming table settings.  I love what she's put together for the dinner party - soft fabrics (napkins, pillows, blankets, chairs), footed glassware, and a beautiful flower arrangement!
Maybe she'll invite me?  






These Strawberry Bars would be an awesome Valentine treat...and you've gotta love Valentine's Day food that isn't chocolate covered strawberries or cupcakes.  :)  (But if you want to see some Valentine's Day cupcakes...you can check these out!)
Strawberry sweets
Eating Bird Food posts the most amazing looking salads.  My favorite this week is her Cabbage, Carrot, and Apple Salad with a Tahini Dressing.  Love a salad without the traditional lettuce base!







And finally, here's a heartwarming  crazy story about bad Boston drivers.  Someone drove their car onto the T (our subway) tracks and got stuck.  This happened right in front of my office on Beacon Street in Brookline.  If you know where this is, you know 1) it's pretty obvious this isn't a road, and 2) she got pretty far down the tracks before her car got stuck.  Quite impressive.
Hint: sometimes the GPS is wrong......




See you Monday!