Tired Mama Taco Salad

Ever have one of those weeks where there don't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished that needs to be done?

That describes this week in our house.

Monday night we were supposed to have tacos.

Instead we opted for a taco salad of sorts that was a smashing success.

The key ingredient:

DORITOS

If Taco Bell can do taco shells made of Doritos, why not taco salad?

(In my opinion, this taco salad was better than the Doritos Tacos, but that's me...)

Ingredients:

1 family size bag of Doritos

shredded lettuce

1 1/2 lbs ground beef, browned & drained

(taco seasoning for ground beef, if desired)

white corn

salsa

fresh tomato salsa (onion, cilantro, jalapeno, and tomato)

chunky prepared salsa

shredded colby blend cheese

guacamole

*sour cream*

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef and drain. Season with taco seasoning if desired.

2. Steam corn until thoroughly heated.

3. Layer taco salad with ingredients as desired.

4. Enjoy!

Hint: Don't forget the sour cream - we did! Not everyone likes sour cream, not everyone likes guacamole - but that's what is great about this meal. Each person can pick and choose what ingredients they want to include. A good meal for fostering independence! No leftovers makes for an easy clean-up too!! Another tip is to skip the taco seasoning in the ground beef. There is enough seasoning on the Doritos and in the salsas to make it up - it wasn't missed at our house!

Southwestern Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 (4 oz) can green chilies
• 4 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 3/4 lb pork sausage
• 8 slices Pepper Jack cheese
• 8 hamburger buns, split & toasted
• 8 lettuce leaves
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• 1-2 ripe avocados, peeled & sliced
• optional mayo or mustard

Directions:

1. Combine in a large mixing bowl: green chilies, ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, ground beef, and pork sausage. Mix well.
2. Shape into hamburger patties.
3. Grill on a preheated grill, covered - over medium heat for 5 minutes on each side. Internal meat temperature should reach 160 degrees F.
4. After cooking both sides of each hamburger, top burgers with 1 slice of Pepper Jack cheese. Cook uncovered for an additional 2 minutes so cheese can melt.
5. Serve on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and your choice of mayo or mustard.

This recipe is being shared on What's New Wednesday (5) over at Grateful Belly - AND - Whimsy Wednesdays over at The NY Melrose Family, go see what everyone else is sharing!!

Mandarin-Cashew Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 cups of your favorite lettuce (or blend) torn
• 2 (11 oz) cans of mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 celery rib, thinly sliced
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 1 cup honey roasted cashews

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• 1 TBS lime juice
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/8 tsp salt
• dash white pepper

Directions:

1. In a large salad bowl, layer the lettuce, green pepper, celery, red onion, mandarin oranges, and roasted cashews.
2. In a separate small bowl, or large measuring cup - mix the vegetable oil, honey, ground mustard, lime juice, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Drizzle dressing over layered salad, just prior to serving.

This recipe is linked up at the Old Fashioned Recipe Exchange over at Little House on the Prairie Living - go visit and link up your favorite recipe too!

7 Layer Salad

Sometimes my boys grumble when I tell them we will be eating salad. Not always though, they absolutely love eating this 7 Layer Salad!

I think the first time we ever tasted it was at a Church Potluck dinner. Now they ask for it as a main course on the dinner menu.

So easy and so delicious!

Ingredients:

1 - lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
2 - red onion, diced
3 - green peas (frozen, thawed tastes best)
4 - cauliflower, diced to bite size pieces
5 - salad dressing or mayonnaise, sprinkled with dry ranch dressing seasoning mix
6 - shredded cheddar cheese
7 - crumbled bacon pieces

Layer in a refrigerator safe dish with a lid. Prepare in advance, and allow to chill in fridge up to 4 hours prior to serving.