The Cookbook

Mexican Dump Tacos

Meat:
2.5 lbs. ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
2 tsp. chili powder
2 tsp. dried whole oregano
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. salt
½ cup sugar
¼ tsp. garlic powder
2 cans tomato sauce (8 oz.)
3 cans tomato paste (6 oz. size)
4 Cups water

Brown the beef with the onion. Drain any fat. Add all other ingredients and simmer for at least one hour.

About 2 cups each of the following ingredients (keep in separate bowls):
Chopped green onions
Chopped green peppers
Diced avocado
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Sliced black olives
Grated cheddar cheese
Picante sauce
Almonds
Coconut
Large bag regular sized Fritos


Directions:
Put a bed of fritos on the plate. Spoon meat over the fritos. Then spoon some of all the other ingredients over the meat. ….(Yes, coconut! It will enhance the flavor.) (serves about 12 people)

librarylady

Spanish Rice, again

1 Cup Rice
Tablespoon or so of Olive Oil
smashed garlic clove
1/4 cup or so of chopped onion

1 3/4 cup of Chicken Stock
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 tsp cumin
1/2 can Rotel Tomatoes


In cooking pot, add olive oil and rice. Cook over low for about 3 minutes or so stirring constantly. Add garlic and onion. Keep cooking this way about 2-3 more minutes til rice turns opaque and sort of starts to brown just a hint.. not much at all and not all over, just a tinge on some of the grains.

Meanwhile, in separate sauce pan bring to simmer chicken stock , oregano and cumin. Add in about 1/2 a can of Rotel Tomatoes.

Add chicken stock mixture to rice/olive oil mixture. Bring back to a good boil, cover tightly, turn heat down to lowest temp possible and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and keep covered 15 minutes or so more.

No big tricks and very easy. Just watch out that you don't put too much liquid in. I usually would use 1 1/2 cups liquid, but some of it evaporates while simmering together in this recipe. You can also use fresh tomato and a little red chili pepper... it's just easier to use Rotel. A smidge of cilantro is a nice touch, too, but one of my kids doesn't care for cilantro.

That's it!

jude