taco chili

a staple in my fast paced, never enough time to eat life. it freezes well and i somehow don't tire of it easily. put it over rice, with corn chips or in a tortilla.

a post production photo of sorts. sorry for the blurries.

1 lb ground beef (the leaner, the better)
2 tbs minced garlic
1/2 onion chopped
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can ranch style beans, not drained
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
2 packets of taco seasoning
OR
1 packet taco seasoning
1 packet ranch dressing powder

brown the ground beef with the onion and garlic in the pot you're planning to use. add in the remaining ingredients and let it cook until it boils. turn the heat to low and let it simmer for a while. the longer the ingredients sit together, the better the taste. i omitted the ranch because of the dairy content and added another packet of taco seasoning. i actually like it better this way. you can substitute whatever beans you have on hand in place of the black beans and pinto beans. sometimes it's red beans, kidney bean or just lots of black beans. add in an extra can or two as a substitute for the beef if you want to go meatless! my roommates top it with cheese and sour cream. i like avocado on mine. super filling and easy.

~enjoy~

asian pasta salad

this is currently my favorite salad (the dressing has started going on everything...)

i found it in a southern living cookbook my friend let me borrow.

here's the original:

8 ounces cooked linguine
3 cups broccoli flowerets
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
4 green onions, sliced
2 large carrots, scraped and sliced diagonally
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce (omitted this)
1 large clove garlic, minced

place cooked pasta in a large bowl. add broccoli and next three ingredients; toss well.
combine soy sauce and remaining 6 ingredients in a small jar, cover tightly, shake vigorously. pour over pasta mixture; toss gently. yields 4 servings.

i made it like this once, and now i just throw in whatever i have in the fridge. it's usually spinach, angel hair or fettuccine, corn, avocado, and yesterday some feta (not my favorite, probably won't do that again). i make lots of the dressing and keep it in the fridge.

enjoy