Tex Mex Taco Salad On Romaine Food

TEX-MEX TACO SALAD

Steps:

• Brown and drain ground beef. Season with taco seasoning according to package directions. Remove from heat. Add drained beans, dressing, and onions. Stir to mix. Chill for several hours.
• Add cheese, if desired, when cool. Just before serving, add lettuce, tomatoes, and lightly crushed chips. Mix together and serve.
• **My favorite way to serve is to not mix in the lettuce, tomatoes, or chips, but to layer them on my plate...lettuce, taco mixture, tomatoes and then serve the chips on the side (kind of like my spoons).

ALL-PURPOSE TEX-MEX VEGGIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together the corn, jalapenos, red onions and bell peppers.
• In a separate bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and crushed red pepper. Mix together with a fork.
• Heat half the oil in a very large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the veggies and sprinkle with half the seasoning. Cook until blackened bits start to appear, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet; repeat with the other half of the oil, veggies and seasoning. Return the first half of the veggies to the skillet and add the black beans and green chiles. Stir and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Use immediately or allow to cool, then package in smaller freezer bags or containers and freeze.
• To reheat, add 2 teaspoons or more of olive oil (depending on the quantity of vegetables) to a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add the desired amount of frozen vegetables. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, 5 to 7 minutes. The veggies can be used in a number of ways. Here are some serving suggestions.
• For soft tacos: Lay a warmed fajita-size flour tortilla on a board. Pile on 1/4 cup cooked taco chicken, top with 2 tablespoons shredded iceberg, 1 tablespoon grated Cheddar and a big spoonful of the Tex-Mex veggies.
• For veggie taco salad: Slice 1/2 head each of iceberg and romaine. Mix and spread the lettuce out on a platter to make a bed for the salad. Arrange 1 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies all over the lettuce. Sprinkle over 1/4 cup cotija cheese, dot on 1/4 cup salsa, top with 2 tablespoons sour cream and sprinkle over 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves.
• For quick quesadillas: Melt 2 tablespoons salted butter in a cast-iron skillet; add 1 burrito-size sun-dried tomato flour tortilla. Top with 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup of the Tex-Mex veggies, then a second tortilla. Cook for a minute, then flip and cook on the other side until the cheese is melted. Remove to a cutting board, cut into quarters and serve with 2 tablespoons pico de gallo, 2 tablespoons guacamole and a sprig of fresh cilantro.

TEX-MEX SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons olive oil, and salt; add 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Grill 4 ears corn; cut off the kernels and toss with 1 can drainedblack beans, 1 diced red bell pepper, 4 sliced radishes and 3 chopped scallions. Toss with the dressing; season with salt and pepper.
• SERVES: 4; Calories: 360; Total Fat 13 grams; Saturated Fat: 2 grams; Protein: 12 grams; Total carbohydrates: 53 grams; Sugar: 20 grams Fiber: 13 grams; Cholesterol: 0 milligrams; Sodium: 499 milligrams

LAYERED TEX-MEX TACO SALAD

Steps:

• Mix first 3 ingredients until blended.
• Layer beans, lettuce, onions, cheese and tomatoes in large bowl. Spread dressing mixture over salad.
• Refrigerate 2 hours.
• Chop avocado; spoon over salad just before serving. Sprinkle with cilantro.