Tacos Tonight

Why not try tacos for dinner tonight??

1 pound hamburger
2 Tablespoons Taco flavored seasonings
1/2 cup oatmeal
lettuce
shredded cheese
Flour or corn tortillas
tomato slices
1 can small red or black beans if desired

Pan fry the hamburger with the taco flavored seasonings and oatmeal--add a little water if it seems dry. You could also add a can of red or black beans.

Warm the tortillas in the oven or microwave

Fill each tortilla with cooked meat, cheese, lettuce and a tomato slice. top with some bottled salsa of your choice.

Use left over rice and sauce from Cafe Rio to add to the meal.

To make bottled salsa taste more like home fresh I usually put 1 or 2 fresh tomatoes and half a bunch of cilantro in the blender and mix. Add to store bought salsa and enjoy.

Cafe Rio

This is a family favorite when we all get together--sometimes to make it quick I use ready made ranch dressing and then add the tomatillos, etc. I'll use quick rice with the seasonings, and sometimes the grocery store takes care of cooking the chicken for me. The original recipe called for pork, but I find the chicken to be quite good. I hope you enjoy.

Cilantro Dressing

1/2 pkg ranch dressing—or 3 tablespoons mix

1 cups milk

1 cups mayonnaise

2 tomatillos

½ bunch cilantro

juice from 1 lime

1 jalapeno seeded

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until well bended. Place in fridge for 1 hour

Rice

4 cups water

3 tsp chicken bouillon

3 tsp garlic

½ bunch cilantro

4 oz. Can diced green chilies—mild

¾ teaspoon salt

1 Tlb butter

1/2 onion

2 cups original rice

Bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, put cilantro, chilies, and onion in blender or food processor and chop and blend well. Add all ingredients to boiling water and simmer, covered for 30 minutes or until rice is soft.

Sweet Meat

1 whole chicken cooked

3/4 cup salsa verde

1/2 cup brown sugar

Season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 2 hours. Remove meat from bones and chop. Add chili sauce and brown sugar.

This is also delicious with Pork tenderloin

To Make Tostadas

Warm flour tortilla, melt cheese on it. Top with rice, black beans, meat, lettuce, cilantro, salsa and cilantro dressing.