SANDRA’S FIESTA TACO SALAD in BAKED TORTILLA BOWLS

It’s healthy and easy to create
lovely shell-shaped bowls for
taco salad that’s crispy and yummy...


I found my recipe and photograph 
featured on  6-17-12 @
http://whotalking.com/flickr/guacamole+recipe

Servings: 4

Prep:  15 Mins.

Bake/Cook: 10 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Shells:

4 8” Flour Tortillas

Olive oil spray

Salad:

1 lb. extra-lean ground venison/moose/beef/buffalo

1 pkg. taco seasoning

¾ cup water

2 cups lettuce, chopped

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 (4 oz. can) sliced olives, drained

Homemade salsa and guacamole

¼ cup sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Fresh sprigs of fresh cilantro

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray tortillas on both sides with olive oil.  Gently push tortillas down into ovenproof bowls to form the shell shapes.

Bake for about 10 minutes, just until tortillas become rigid and lightly browned.  Remove tortillas from oven and let cool (shells will become a bit more crispy).

Meanwhile, place a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the burger, add the taco seasoning and water, then simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Fill the shells by alternating layers of taco seasoned meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and olives.  Top each off with spoonfuls of salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.  Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, and fresh cilantro sprigs. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S FIESTA NACHOS GRANDE

You will be amazed at how quickly
these Fiesta Nachos Grande are going
to disappear...

[Recipe profiled on Alaska Outdoors TV
on October 28, 2012
@ http://www.alaskaoutdoorstelevision.com/cooking/]

Servings: (4)
Prep: 20 mins. |
Cook Meat and Seasoning: 7 to 10 Mins.|
Bake Nachos: 7 to 10 Mins.

Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS:

***Nachos:
1 lb. lean beef/moose/venison/buffalo burger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
5 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
--(reserving 1 cup for top)
1 large bag restaurant-style flour tortilla chips

***Salsa (Yields about 4 cups)
6 roma tomatoes, finely chopped
½ spanish onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped jarred-pickled-jalapeno slices
Handful of fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 lime, juiced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

***Guacamole (Yields about 2 cups)
2 large, ripe avacados, peeled, de-seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon sour cream
2 heaping tablespoons of freshly prepared salsa

***Garnish:
2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 scallions (green onions), finely sliced
1 tablespoon jarred-pickled-jalapeno slices (More, or less)
1 sm. can sliced black olives, drained
Handful of cilantro leaves, chopped

METHOD

In a medium skillet, brown the burger over medium-high heat, add the taco seasonings and water and cook according to directions, and set aside.

Prepare salsa by adding to a medium bowl the chopped onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro. Add the lime juice, and kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste, and set aside.

Prepare the guacamole by mashing the avocados, adding 1 tablespoon sour cream, and 2 heaping tablespoons of salsa mixture; combine, and set aside.

To build the nachos, begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. On a very large ovenproof dish; layer a few handfuls of tortilla chips, followed with 1/4 of the meat mixture, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup of salsa, and repeat making 4 total layers; ending with 1 cup reserved cheddar cheese on top. Place platter of nachos on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 7 to 10 minutes until most of the cheese is melted. Remove from oven.

Meanwhile, while nachos are baking, prepare the sides in three separate, small bowls of remaining salsa, sour cream, and guacamole, and set aside.

Sprinkle all of the garnish ingredients in the order listed over the hot nachos grande, and remove dish from baking pan. Carefully place dish of nachos in the middle of table over a hot pad (warn guests that platter is hot!). Place the three bowls of sides near serving platter of nachos. – Dig in and Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip: You can also make this with cooked and coarsely shredded store-bought whole-roasted chicken that has been de-skinned and de-boned.

SANDRA'S INCREDIBLE CHICKEN CHALUPAS TEX-MEX STYLE

I have enjoyed these chalupas for years 
at a local eatery,
but they have since closed their doors 
so this is my reiteration...

Servings: (4)
Prep: 20 mins. |
Cook: 20 mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS:

***Chalupas:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cooked boneless-skinless chicken breasts, roughly shredded
1/2 cup chicken low-sodium broth
2 teaspoons bacon grease
1 can of refried beans
4 (8”) corn tortillas, lightly sprayed with oil
1 cup monterrey jack cheese, shredded
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

***Garnish:
3 cups romaine lettuce, shredded
2 roma tomato, chopped
2 green onion, chopped
Jarred pickled jalapeno slices
1 sm. jar whole baby corns spears, drained
1 lime cut ino 4 wedges

***Dressing
4 tablespoons mild green tomatillo taco sauce (I prefer La Victoria)
1 tablespoon juice from pickled jalapeno jar
1 teaspoon hot horseradish (not sauce)

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the dressing by combining all ingredients in small bowl, and set aside.

In a small saucepan over low heat melt the bacon grease, and add the refried beans while stirring, and heat just until warm, and set aside.

Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add the shredded chicken and heat just until it begins to slightly brown, and add broth while scraping bits from bottom of pan, and heat until skillet becomes devoid of water while occasionally stirring; turn off heat.

Spray bottom side of tortilla with oil. Spread the refried beans on dry side of corn tortillas, sprinkle each equally with chicken, and both shredded cheeses. Place in the oven and bake until the cheese melts, about 10 to 15 minutes.

Gently remove warmed tortillas from oven, and place each on serving plat. Garnish each tortilla equally shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced pickled jalapenos, and then place baby corn spears, and a wedge of lime around outside of plates. Drizzle with equal amounts of dressing – Enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip:  This is also great with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole and homemade salsa.

SANDRA'S POTLUCK EIGHT-LAYER NACHO DIP

Servings: (12)
Cook/Prep: 30 mins.

Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Cooked ingredients:
1 lb lean moose burger (or venison, or beef)
· ½ white onion, diced
· ½ cup red bell pepper, chopped
· 2 garlic cloves, minced
· 1 can of refried beans
· 1 pkg. taco seasoning
· 1 teaspoon chili powder

***Guacamole:
· 2 avocados, peeled – seeds removed – and mashed with a fork.
· 1 teaspoon lime juice
· ½ tomato, chopped
· sea salt and ground pepper, to taste

***Non-cooked ingredients:
· 2 cups sour cream (reserve some to dollop on top
· 1 small can hot green chilies (use mild if you like it less spicy); although hot green chilies are perfect because so many ingredients make this the right choice
· 2 small cans sliced black olives
· 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
· 2 cups medium picante salsa
· 1 tomato, chopped

***Garnish ingredients:
- 1 cup lettuce, shredded
- 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
- 2 green onions, finely sliced
-  a few dollops of sour cream

-- Tortilla chips for scooping

METHOD

In a medium-size skillet heat to medium-high heat and brown the burger, about ¾’s the way through add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, taco seasoning, and chili powder; cooking until the onions are translucent. Add in the refried beans, and gently stir to combine, just until bubbly. Remove from heat, and let cool.

Make guacamole by smashing the avocados in a small bowl with a fork, and add the lemon juice, and chopped tomato; mixing to combine. Season with sea salt and ground pepper, to taste.

Layer cooled meat mixture on bottom of 9”x13” glass pan (or other decorative vessel), and then layer sour cream, guacamole, green chilies, black olives, shredded cheese, picante sauce, chopped tomatoes, lettuce, cilantro, and green onions. Top with dollops of sour cream. Serve at room temperature, and for easy dipping with restaurant-style flour tortilla chips. - Enjoy!

SANDRA'S HOMEMADE MEXICAN PICO DE GALLO -salsa- and GUACAMOLE

Fresh salsa (pico de gallo) is great as an appetizer
with chips, although it's a fabulous
accompaniment to seafood and fish as well...

Servings: (4)
Prep: 15 min.

INGREDIENTS

***Salsa (fresh pico de gallo):
· 6 medium roma tomatoes, de-seeded
· ½ medium onion
· 1 tablespoon jarred jalapenos, chopped
· 2 teaspoons jarred jalapeno juice

· ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

· 1 lime, juiced
· Salt and pepper, to taste

--restaurant style tortilla chips

METHOD

Finely chop the onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro. Add the lime juice, and salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with your favorite chips.  Drain a bit of liquid from left-overs, if present. - Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INGREDIENTS

I like my guacamole a bit on the
chunky side...

***Guacamole

2 ripe avocados, peeled, de-seeded, and chopped

1 tablespoon sour cream

2 heaping tablespoons
of salsa
--(Recipe above)

METHOD

In a small bowl, roughly
mash the chopped avocados with a fork, and fold in the sour cream and salsa.

SANDRA'S VENISON BURRITOS VENDOR-STYLE

Burritos are fantastic, hearty and delicious!

Especially with homemade pico de gallo and guacamole,
which I made with indoor-grown jalapeno peppers...

Servings: (4)
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cook Time: 15 min.

INGREDIENTS

***Meat mixture
· 1 lb. extra lean venison burger (or moose, buffalo, or beef )
· 1 package taco seasoning (click link for homemade)
· ¾ cup water
· 1 (14.5 oz.) can of refried beans

***Garnish
· 2 cups cheddar and/or Mexican blend shredded cheese
· ¼ head iceberg lettuce, shredded
· 2 tomatoes, diced
· 2 green onions, thinly sliced
· 1 cup sour cream

Homemade pico de gallo- Um-Um Good!

· 1 cup Picante Salsa (or homemade is better, click here: [Sandra's Mexican Salsa (pico de gallo) and Guacamole]
· 1 avocado, sliced into diagonal strips

· 4 (10”) flour tortillas

METHOD

In a large skillet over medium heat brown burger. Add taco seasoning with water and simmer until liquid cooks down, about 7 minutes. Add refried beans and fold in, just until warm and incorporated; reduce heat to keep warm.

Meanwhile, prepare garnishments by placing wet ingredients in small bowls or ramekins, and others on a separate large platter and/or in small decorative bowls or plates.

Preheat a dry large non-stick skillet to medium heat; once heated place flour tortilla in dry skillet until it begins to slightly bubble, turn over and do the same on the other side (this process removes the “flour & tangy” taste). [In our house each person does their own.] Place warm tortilla on plate by adding a couple large spoonfuls of meat mixture diagonally across the center and top with garnish ingredients in the order listed above. Roll up as in photograph and enjoy!!!

VENDOR STYLE: Wrap inside a square of tinfoil, making “TO GO” burritos—these are excellent warm or at room temperature—out on the boat, at camp, driving out the road or wherever your outing takes you...