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!

Mom's Spanish Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice, prepared as directed

1/2 medium white onion, diced

1/2 medium green bell pepper, diced

1 can stewed tomatoes (Mexican seasoned)

3 TBS butter or margarine

1 small can of tomato paste

1 1/2-2 cups of chicken broth

1 1/2 tsp southwestern seasoning

3 dashes of hot sauce

2 tsp taco seasoning

* Melt butter in a deep skillet, then saute onion and green pepper in butter.

* Add stewed tomatoes with juice to onion and green peppers and stir until well combined.

* As vegetables begin to simmer, add tomato paste and chicken broth.

* Add cooked rice, and seasoning and continue to stir until well combined.

* Simmer on low for an additional 5-8 minutes. Add hot sauce (if desired) just prior to serving.

HINT: When I was still living at home my mom would make this rice for us when we had tacos for dinner. Another comfort food from my childhood! Occasionally she would brown ground beef and add it to the rice for serving as the main dish. If there are any leftovers...it is even better the second day! Enjoy!

This recipe is linked up to Church Supper #31 over at Everyday Mom's Meals...visit to check out more recipes from this week's Church Supper!

We're also posting this week on Sweet & Simple at Cups By Kim....go check it out!