BEST taco recipe

My good friend Suzanne found this recipe online. It is from America's Test Kitchen, one of my all-time favorite magazines. My dad has been getting it for as long as I can remember and I love the show, too. They are the ones who once said that there is no difference between using real vanilla and a cheaper alternative of imitation vanilla when you are using it in a recipe. Oh, baking controversy!

Anyway, we made these tacos last night. I tweaked it a little by adding a little more brown sugar and onion and I did hard tacos instead.

Ingredients
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp salt
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tsp cider vinegar
1 tsp brown sugar
8 flour tortillas
1/2 head lettuce
1/2 pound cheddar cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup salsa

Directions
1.Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until simmering. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, spices, and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

2.Stir in the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, and sugar and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt to taste.

3.Divide the filling evenly among the taco shells and serve.

Delicious! We also made spanish rice with green peppers, onions and tomatoes.

inspiration?

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one."

adapted from The Star Thrower
by Loren Eiseley
1907 - 1977

things that are annoying (that I do)

It has been awhile since I have posted. I realize this doesn't mean much, as I assume no one actually reads this blog...hello, nine members? How pathetic. That being said, I feel as though the impending new year is a best time for some self-reflection. Now for me, reflection usually involves what kind of hummus I will be purchasing this week (new favorite-greek style). But in this case, I have chosen to look at things that people tell me are annoying. These are things I do, by the way. All of them. All the time. Whatever.

-Blowing bubbles with my gum. The best brand is Ice Cubes by Ice Breakers.

-Not unloading the dishwasher. I have decided my time is too valuable. I have far too many episodes of Sister Wives recorded to catch up on.

-Switching the radio station every .537 seconds.

-Filling awkward silence with loud sighs when I have nothing to be sighing about.

-Taking the last soda out of the box in my fridge and then leaving the box in there.

-Not recycling. My recycling bin is literally next to my normal trash can, but I can't lean over the railing of my porch to drop it in like I can with the normal one. Sorry, landfills.

-Leaving almost empty bottles of shampoo in the shower.

-Never, ever, ever having cash.

This is all pretty much to do with laziness.

New year's resolution?

Stop being lazy.

Thanksgiving at the farm

With my siblings (PRM, LJM, CvBM)...dressing the part, of course.

thought

"I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life"
-The Great Gatsby

Rants

Yep, here we go...

Tailing me. Why must people always be driving right up on me? Particularly when I have a client in the car. If you are in a constant state of late-ness, LEAVE EARLY. Yes, you may miss five minutes of precious sleep time…but get over yourself and your road rage. I, for one, am so over it.

Mothers injuring/killing their children. Yes, this is more than a rant. If you do not think you will be able to take care of your children, DO NOT HAVE THEM. Or better yet, have them and give them up for adoption. Hell, you could even drop the baby off at a hospital, no questions asked. People are selfish and capable of such evil, it makes me sick. That poor child who was found dead recently in a Saint Louis cemetery lived ten minutes away from my parents. I am so disgusted by this child’s mother. Yes, she is innocent until proven guilty. But give me a break…

Events that start prior to 6 pm on a weeknight. Come on; give me a chance to at least appear to be alert and refreshed.

People showing up empty-handed for dinner parties. I have just spent countless hours and money on YOU. Bring me something. I don’t care if it is a card, flowers, candy, wine, etc. Just be courteous. My BFF Tinabells came over for dinner last night and was sweet enough to bring me a baggie of Hershey’s Kisses. Perfect. So cute and sweet. She is always thoughtful and brings something darling. I am not asking for something expensive and tasteful; just don’t come into my house without something. I would NEVER come into yours that way!

This post was incredibly un-ladylike, but I don’t care. Wishing everyone a fantastic Thursday! :)




xoxo, Grumpy Muffy (hehe)