If you know me, you know I love to cook and take pictures. If you know my family, you know we love our "Personal Taco Parties." I found a way to combine all three things.
For dinner, I made a variation of Rachael Ray's Taco Pasta Toss. And thanks to my neighborhood Wegman's grocery store, it came out great.
First, I made the salsa. The original recipe called for chopped tomatoes and jalapenos and and only using part of an onion. We love salsa, so I made some quick salsa. Using an onion chopper (the kind you place the onion on the blade and push down on the arm), I chopped the onion (I saved some for the beef), two small plum tomatoes, and a clove of garlic. I mixed everything together in a bowl with a bit of olive oil and some freeze dried cilantro (it's just as tasty as fresh, and I can use it whenever I want).
Then I started cooking the penne pasta. I used half a box for two people.
I browned a pound of lean, ground beef and three-quarters of the onion in a skillet. I also used a packet of taco seasoning. The original recipe calls for chili powder, coriander, and cumin. I used the seasoning because it won price wise in comparison to buying the coriander (I had the other two ingredients).
After everything was browned, I added a small can of tomato paste and a bottle of Corona. I stirred it all together and let it bubble and the sauce reduce and thicken, about 10 minutes. You should stir pretty often, or it will all stick to the bottom.
I put the cooked and drained pasta on a plate, added the meat (sooooo good, I could just eat it plain) and then topped with shredded lettuce (already shredded and in the perfect portion for two thanks to Wegman's), cheddar cheese, and the salsa. I also added a bit of sour cream for a little creaminess.
It was to die for.
So if you want to try it like I made it - here's what you'll need:
Pasta
1 packet taco seasoning
1 large onion
1 small can of tomato paste
2 plum tomatoes
1 clove of garlic
cilantro
1 bottle of beer or a cup of stock
shredded cheddar cheese
shredded lettuce
