Crunchy Black Bean Tacos

Got these off Pinterest. They have become a staple in our home! So easy, yummy, & healthyish!;)

Ingredients:
2 C black beans (I just use one can, drained. Would use 2 cans if wanting to make more...one can makes about a dozen)
1/2 C red onion, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2tsp salt
1/2tsp garlic powder
shredded cheese (Monterey jack or whatever you prefer)
chopped cilantro (eyeball it to your preference)
olive oil
corn tortillas
toppings (sour cream, salsa, avocado, etc.)

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro & spices. Lightly mash all ingredients together (sometimes I forget to mash & it works fine anyway)
2. In a large non-stick skillet, add a few TBS of oil & heat on med-high heat.
3. Add one corn tortilla at a time & let it get hot in the oil (I flip tortilla over a couple of times to oil it up on both sides)
4. Spoon your bean mixture to one half of the tortilla & top with shredded cheese.
5. Using a spatula, carefully fold the tortilla over so it forms a shell. Press down lightly on the tortilla so it holds its shape.
6. As the first tortilla cooks, slide it to the side & do a second one (I can usually do about 3 at a time...if you had a griddle you could do even more at once).
7.  Cook each taco for several minutes on each side until they are nicely browned and crispy.
8. I place a paper towel over a plate & as I finish a batch, I set them on the paper towel to the side until all are cooked.

Serve with your favorite toppings & sides!
Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos

Also from Pinterest, made these last night and
they are divine! Will have to make them again
because I am sure I will be craving them!



Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 pounds beef (I used a boneless chuck roast)
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 cup beef stock
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced (one is all you need, avoid seeds to lessen heat, use this link for helpful chipotle pepper advice!)
1/2 large sweet onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Flour tortillas
Favorite taco toppings: avocado, cheese, cilantro, salsa, etc.

Directions:
1. Whisk together the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika in a small bowl. Rub the spice mix into the beef, covering each side evenly. (I cheated and used McCormicks Salt Free Sweet 'n Smoky spice rub instead) 

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place the beef in the skillet and sear on each side until browned. Add the diced onion and minced garlic on top of the seared beef in the slow cooker.

3. Remove the beef from the skillet and place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Leave the pan on the heat, and add in the beef stock to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the tomato paste and minced chipotle and whisk into the pan sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for a 3-5 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly. Pour the pan sauce down over the onions, garlic, and beef in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

4. Shred the beef and onions with two forks. Serve the beef in the flour tortillas, topped with your favorite taco toppings.

Paleo Tacos

These are a no brainer, but I'm posting them so I won't forget this easy, Paleo friendly recipe! Plus the picture from "The Paleo Mom" website helps me remember all the ingredients I will need.
Note to self: Double the amount of taco meat you would normally make for traditional tacos! Using the lettuce leaves is not as filling as a corn shell and using this as your "meal" with no beans or rice on the side, will make you consume more of the taco meat! :)

Ingredients:

2lbs ground beef (or turkey if you prefer)
taco seasoning
romaine lettuce leaves
avocados for guacamole
black olives
chopped tomatoes
salsa

Directions:

1. Cook up your taco meat how you normally would--remembering to make a little extra!
2. Wash & tear up your lettuce leaves into "shells" (they're kind of like a boat for the fillings)
3. Make guacamole
4. Set out your toppings:  black olives, tomato, onion, salsa, etc.
5. Place all ingredients inside the lettuce wrap (aka, taco shell).

Very Paleo friendly, unless you sprinkle the tiniest bit of shredded cheese on top! But who would ever do that!?! :}

Oven Baked Tacos

Found this recipe on pinterest and have made it several times--we really enjoy it, so thought I'd share it here!

Ingredients:
1lb ground Beef
1 can refried beans
8oz can tomato sauce
diced onion
diced green chiles
taco seasoning
shredded cheese
(sour cream, lettuce, tomato, etc. for optional toppings)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In large skillet brown ground beef and onion
3. Add refried beans, tomato sauce, taco seasoning, green chiles to the pan and mix together
4. Spoon taco meat mixture into taco shells and place in 9x13" baking dish standing up
5. Sprinkle cheese over top of taco meat in each shell and place in oven
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and tacos are heated through.

Baja Taco Blitz

This is a Weight Watchers recipe so it's healthy and yummy! I tweaked the recipe slightly (mainly I seasoned the chicken with the same ingredients from the Pioneer Women's Chicken Tortilla soup recipe) it makes the chicken taste divine! This is a great keeper! I served pinto beans as a side.

Ingredients:

1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic pwd
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili pwd
olive oil
boneless skinless chicken breast tenders
corn tortillas
sliced onion
sliced bell pepper

optional toppings:
sliced avocado
fat free sour cream
shredded lettuce
shredded fat free cheddar cheese
salsa
fresh chopped cilantro

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  In a small bowl mix the first 4 ingredients/seasonings. Place chicken on a bar pan or some other type pan that has a ridge (so chicken grease won't drip off). Drizzle the chicken tenders with olive oil then sprinkle the entire bowl of seasonings over the chicken--tossing to ensure they're fully coated.
Bake the tenders for about 15-20 minutes until no longer pink.

3.  While chicken is baking saute the bell pepper & onion; place to the side after cooking.

4.  Remove chicken from oven, allow to cool & then shred/cut into bite size pieces.

5. In the same skillet used for onion & bell pepper--add a little olive oil and heat on low heat.
Place a corn tortilla in skillet and cook, flipping gently, occasionally until tortilla is soft. Remove to a paper towel lined plate.

6.  Fill each tortilla with the chicken, onions/bell pepper & toppings of your choice.