Category Archives: Mexican

Taco Seasoning

1/4 cup dried onion flakes, minced
4 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons salt
4 tablespoons chili powder
3 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons oregano
3 teaspoons garlic, dried minced
3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
3 teaspoons bouillon, beef

Mix all ingredients well.  Store in an airtight container.

Mushroom Quesadillas

Vegetable oil spray
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1 teaspoon bottled minced garlic
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
3 8-inch whole-wheat flour tortillas
6 tablespoons shredded low-fat Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeqo peppers or low-fat cheddar cheese
Salsa (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large skillet with vegetable oil. Cook mushrooms, onion and garlic in skillet over medium heat until onion is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in cilantro and remove from heat.

Arrange one-third of the mushroom mixture on half of one tortilla. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the cheese. Fold the other half of the tortilla over cheese. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ingredients to make 3 quesadillas total.

Bake quesadillas about 5 minutes, or until filling is hot and cheese melts. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges. Serve warm with salsa if desired.

Microwave Method:

Spray a microwave-safe casserole with vegetable oil. Add mushrooms, onion and garlic. Cook, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 5 to 7 minutes, or until onion is tender, stirring twice.  Stir in cilantro.

Assemble quesadillas as directed above and arrange them on a microwave-safe plate or platter. Cook, rotating plate once, uncovered, on 100% power (high) for 1 to 2 minutes, or until filling is hot and cheese melts.

Mini Taco Cups

48 corn tortillas, chips, such as Tostitos Scoops
3/4 cup sour cream, low fat
8 pickled jalapenos
1 1/2 teaspoons taco seasoning mix
1 -15 oz. can chili  , vegetarian
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, taco flavored, shredded
fresh parsley, chopped

Place rack in uppermost position.  Heat oven to broil. Select 48 unbroken chips and place in single layer on one or two baking sheets.  In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, jalapenos and taco seasoning mix.
Place about 1 teaspoon chili into each tortilla cup.  Top with about 1/2 teaspoon shredded cheese per cup.  Place on top rack and broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until cheese melts and chili is heated through (tortilla edges will just begin to brown).  Once cups are heated, top with a small dollop of the jalapeno sour cream.  Garnish with parsley; serve with additional sour cream on side.

48  Servings

Chorizo Taquitos

1 package (16-ounce, bulk) beef chorizo sausage, casing removed
1 cup medium chunky salsa, drained, Pace®
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese, Kraft®
6 fajita-size (8-inch) flour tortillas, Mission®
1 cup prepared guacamole (refrigerated section)
1/4 cup sour cream
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet, saute sausage over medium heat until brown, about 6 minutes. Drank fat from cooked sausage; discard. Set sausage aside to cool. Stir salsa and cheese into sausage in skillet.
Place 1 tortilla onto a clean work surface. Spoon 1/4 cup of the sausage mixture down tortilla center. Fold tortilla in half, then roll up. Secure with toothpicks. Place on a foil-covered cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
Bake until filling is hot and tortilla is crisps and golden brown, about 18 minutes. Cut taquitos in half crosswise. Serve hot with guacamole and sour cream.

Taco Spaghetti

10 ounces dried spaghetti or linguine or fettuccine, broken
2 lbs ground beef or ground turkey
2 large onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups water
1 (1 1/4 ounce) envelope taco seasoning mix
2 (11 ounce) cans corn mixed with chopped peppers, drained
1 1/2 cups Colby-Monterrey Jack cheese or cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup favorite salsa
2 (4 1/2 ounce) cans diced green chili peppers, drained
4 cups lettuce, shredded
1 medium tomato, chopped

Cook pasta according to pkg directions, drain.
Meanwhile, cook ground meat and onion until meat is brown, in a dutch oven.
Drain off fat. Stir in water and taco seasoning mix. Bring to boiling and reduce heat.
Simmer, uncovered for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cooked pasta, corn, 1 cup of the shredded cheese, salsa and chili peppers Divide mix evenly between 2 lightly greased 2 qt casseroles. Package up, label and freeze up to 3 months.

To serve remaining casserole, cover and bake in a 350F oven for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Top with lettuce and chopped tomato.
If desired, pass broken tortilla chips and dairy sour cream as additional toppings.

To serve the 2nd casserole, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Bake, covered in a 375F oven for 1 hour or until heated through, stirring once about halfway through baking time. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Serve with 4 cups shredded lettuce and 1 medium tomato, chopped.

12 Servings