Taco-Esque Salad

Hi Everybody! Happy almost done January! (it's the small things that get you through the day, right?)

Today's post is brought to you by me wanting Mexican food without a lot of work and calories.

Start with whatever you have in the kitchen that works with your budget, taste buds and whimsy.

Me, I had grass-fed ground beef (which if you haven't tried, is amaze-balls).

Also featured are an onion, tomato, avocado (I currently have EIGHT!!!! Thank you to my Farm to Fork Cood Co-op!) Beans of choice, corn (frozen, canned, fresh, work with what you got), a bag a kale mix (thanks Costco) and some fabulous gluten free corn crackers (again, Costco!) and chili powder.

Start by tossing a large-ish frying pan on the stove over high heat, and add a spoonful of olive oil (unless you are not using lean/extra-lean meat, then there is no need)

Once the pan's hot, place the meat in and crumble and poke until it is cooked through.

Sometime while your protein is cooking, chop an one large onion into small-ish pieces and add to the pan once the meat is almost done.

Let the onion cook until soft, then add the chili powder. Use your judgement; a little or a lot, feel free to add chipotle powder or hot sauce as required.

If you are trying to sneak in additional vegetables for kids or Kid 2.0 (aka Hubby), grated carrot blends in great when it is cooked up with the onion and meat. 

Next open a toss in the corn and beans. No need to drain them, just add them in, and explain to your cat, AGAIN, that it IS. Not. TUNA. Just because it comes in a can does not mean that everything is tuna.

Stir the pan, and let it come back up to a simmer. You want to warm everything up, and let some of the liquid evaporate.

Impatiently wait for the pan to finish cooking, and chop a tomato and cube up some avocado while you wait.

Grab some of the kale mix (or lettuce, coleslaw mix, whatever you have) and place some in a bowl, followed by the meat mixture, chopped tomato and avocado. Finish with the corn crackers, and top with some salsa (not picture because I was an airhead)

If you can find these corn crackers, they are really really good.