Tacos!

Who doesn't love a good taco... or 2... or 3?! They're super yum, quick to fix and fun to build! Me mudz, a.k.a. me mudder, a.k.a. my Mom, was visiting a while ago and she happens to be a big taco fan. Since I had all the ingredients on hand to make homemade tacos, I whipped out the recipe book and cracked to it! Not only are these simple to make (just as few steps as the boxed variety) they're made in your kitchen so they're mystery ingredient and preservative-free! Well... everything but the taco shells, but you can't have it all, all the time! ;)

Anywho, this delicious recipe hails from The Joy of Cooking cookbook. My mom has been known to be picky about her tacos (just ask taco and his other brother taco...), but she really enjoyed this version. Definitely something I'll be having again very soon!



**Note** Apologies in advance for all the brown you're about to see... until they meet the salsa, lettuce and cheese, tacos are rather boring!

Ingredients

• 12 Taco Shells
• 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 3/4 cup chopped Onion
• 1 pound Ground Beef
• 1 to 3 Garlic Cloves minced
• 1 tbsp Chili Powder
• 2 tsp Ground Cumin
• 2 tsp Coriander (optional)
• Salt to taste
• 1 cup Tomato Sauce
• minced fresh Jalapenos to taste
• 2 cups Shredded Lettuce
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar
• Salsa Fresco - I used my hubby's delish salsa
• Sour Cream

Instructions

1) Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring until softened, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.

brown that beef!

2) Add ground beef and increase temp to medium-high. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until it is no longer pink (about 3 minutes).

make it browner with brown spices!

3) Stir in garlic, chili powder, ground cumin and salt. Cook, stirring for 30 seconds. Next add tomato sauce, and jalapenos.

make it even browner, with a hint of red!

4) Cook, stirring occasionally, over low heat for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bake your shells in the oven. Place, in separate serving bowls: lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa and sour cream.

Mmmm! brown meat and taco shells!

5) At this point, scoop spoonfuls of the seasoned ground beef into tacos and serve to guests. Let everyone dig in and build their own tacos with fresh salsa, lettuce, cheese and sour cream!