Mexican Food

Using basic ingredients, you can prepare low cost, pleasing meals with Mexican food that the whole family will enjoy. Hot sauces and salsa will add flavor and spice. Try mild varieties for children and others who do not enjoy hot and spicy foods. Jalapeño peppers are hot - use them sparingly or remove some or all of the seeds to cut down on the heat. Also, wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after chopping.

Build Your Own Tacos
Shell & Tortilla	Protein	Vegetables	Extras	Spices
Hard shells Corn tortillas Whole wheat tortillas	Lean ground beef (15% fat or less) Ground turkey Refried beans (or refried black beans) Cooked black beans (or canned, drained and rinsed) Cooked pinto beans (or canned, drained and rinsed)	Tomato Lettuce Onion Green pepper Zucchini Mushroom Avocado	Cheese Sour cream Taco sauce Hot sauce Salsa Olives	Paprika Cumin Chili powder Red pepper flakes

A plate with three soft shell tacos containing meat and vegetables.

Cooking Tacos

Warm taco shells or tortillas in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes.
Cook the meat or warm the beans. Stir in the spices.
Prepare the vegetables and extras. (Chop the tomatoes, shred the lettuce, etc.) You may want to lightly sauté some of the vegetables.
Let each family member choose from the ingredients available. Choose a shell/tortilla, protein, lots of vegetables, and a little bit of the 'extras.'