taco tuesday

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Easy Corn and Chicken Quesadillas

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Easy Corn and Chicken Quesadillas

Quesadillas are a Perfect Food. Crisp and fluffy at the same time, full of stretchy cheese, and whatever ingredients you’ve got in your fridge at the time. There was a great time period in my life where I routinely kept flour tortillas and shredded cheese in my kitchen so that I could make quesadillas at any moment – but since I also have very little self restraint, I try not to keep them within arm’s reach at all times. Towards the end of summer, fresh corn is widely available and delicious on the grill. This week’s recipe combines sweet charred corn and leftover shredded rotisserie chicken. I love repurposing food from previous meals into something new and quesadillas are the perfect vehicle for that. The Mission Tortillas Street Taco Flour Tortillas are incredible - pillowy and delicious when the edges get hot and toasty. They’re also the perfect size for individual quesadillas. Serve these with the simplest Mango Salsa ever!

Mango Salsa

Mango Salsa

Whewww this mango salsa is refreshing. It is robust, vibrant flavor that enhances savory dishes. Eat it with everything - tacos, quesadillas, grilled meat, chips, or by the spoonful. Sweet, juicy mango chunks become best friends with jalapeno, red bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice for a quick, fail-proof salsa that you can make to brighten up any meal.

Palomas

Palomas

For a little fizzy twist on the classic margarita, the Paloma is the perfect cocktail. My girlfriend Kayla introduced me to this grapefruit and tequila cocktail on an afternoon where we turned Happy Hour into a $100 outing. Needless to say, I've been ordering them ever since. The Paloma is a refreshing combination of sweet and tart grapefruit juice or soda, lime, and a nice salty rim. Top off this 5 minute cocktail with club soda for a bubbly finish. I love using fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, but you can also use Squirt or Grapefruit Jarritos! :) Let's get drankin!

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Grilled Cheese Tacos

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Grilled Cheese Tacos

There's nothing like a classic grilled cheese. And I think we can all agree that we've been waiting on a taco emoji since forever. So what happens when you combine the two? Pure heaven. This week's recipe for Grilled Cheese Tacos is an incredibly easy way to appease your biggest junk food craving in minutes. Toss together some fresh pico de gallo and slice up some creamy avocado to top it all off. These tacos are perfectly warm and gooey, salty and savory; and the pico adds a nice fresh punch. Let's get cookin :) 

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Elote Salad

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Elote Salad

BBQ season is here! Warm weather, ice cold drinks, and tons of yummy dishes and sides. I love BBQs because they’re often potlucks, and you get to try out all kinds of new dishes and get inspired by others’ cooking! One of my favorite indulgences is Mexican Grilled Corn, or Elote. Elote is corn on the cob, often served with salt, chili powder, butter, cheese, lime juice, cilantro, cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream. They’re so delicious and comforting. 


I was thinking about ways to make Elote for large groups of people, and realized it would be so easy to simply cut the kernels off the cob and cook the corn in the same way. The result is a vibrant, flavorful side dish that is fantastic for parties or regular ole weeknight dinners. One other perk that I love is that I always tend to get corn stuck in my teeth when I eat it off the cob - and this way, it’s a little easier to eat shovel into your mouth hahah :) 

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Paleo Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

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Paleo Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

We all love carbs - they’re delicious and magical, and yes; not that great for you. “Everything in moderation” is a great mindset, but is often difficult to actually apply to our daily lifestyles. I often try my hardest to make most of my meals #Paleo, short for the Paleolithic Diet, which basically consists of lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, fish oil and grass-fed meat. It cuts out dairy, grains, processed food & sugar, and starches. I have learned to substitute rice for more veggies, zucchini noodles, or a big salad. I’m not on a strict Paleo diet at all, but try to incorporate it into my meals as much as possible. 
I love lettuce wraps. They’re so easy to make and are so low in carbs that you can indulge without feeling guilty. My version is a twist on the typical lettuce wraps that use hoisin sauce. This recipe is packed with flavor, simple to throw together during the week, and will be a nice mix into your family’s meals. And on top of that, it’s budget friendly! What more could you ask for :) Let’s get cookin :)

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

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Skinny Enchilada Stacks

I’m not going to claim that I know how to make authentic enchiladas, or hell, Mexican food. These Enchilada Stacks are a great way to satisfy your craving for Mexican food without the extra work that comes with rolling each enchilada. The recipe is delicious - it tastes just like I remember, and is so easy to throw together. It might not look like the traditional thing, but trust me, it tastes just like the classic. Top off each serving with fresh Queso Fresco, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, olives, and cilantro - the whole enchilada.

Believe it or not, this recipe is also #GlutenFree! Traditional yellow corn tortillas keep this nice and simple. I also used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and made my own taco seasoning. This is such a fun dish for entertaining or for a weeknight meal with your family. Chop up all the toppings and set up a little enchilada bar! That way everyone can customize their own :) Let’s get cookin :) 

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Mango Basil Crispy Personal Pizzas

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Mango Basil Crispy Personal Pizzas

Pizza. One of the most delicious inventions in the world. It’s versatility is endless: deep dish, thin crust, cheese stuffed crust, sweet, savory, and topped with any ingredient under the sun. Making homemade pizza is, let’s be honest, kind of a drag. I am usually very hesitant when it comes to making my own dough, even though the outcome is significantly better than store-bought instant dough. 

One of my favorite pizza topping combinations is the classic Hawaiian. It’s simple. Salty, sweet, and on a light crispy dough with tons of cheese. I wanted to share a few recipes with you that take a classic dish, and update it with a new, slightly more upscale twist (while still being completely affordable). How could I elevate a Hawaiian pizza? Mango. 

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Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

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Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots

It’s Cinco De Mayo, and what better to celebrate with than Strawberry Margarita Jello Shots? One thing I hate about jello shots is loosening the jello up with your finger, and then trying to get it all out of the tiny little cup. Call me lazy, but I wanted to get around this. Solution? Make the jello shots in fresh strawberries :) 

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner, and that got me thinking about a ton of fun recipes for this weekend! Colorful, fresh ingredients make for delicious and vibrant looking meals. 

Trader Joe’s has a great Cilantro Lime dressing that is super tasty…but take one look at the nutrition facts and it’ll make you put it back on the shelf. How to get around this problem? Make it at home! 

My original intention for this vinaigrette was for crispy fish tacos (that’s up next!)…but it turned out so tasty that I've been dipping everything in it. Yum. Here we go! Super easy :)