Taco



INGREDIENTS:

ground or finely chopped beef

corn tortillas or ready-made taco shells

cumin. about 1 to 4 teaspoons per pound of beef
(perhaps 11 to 44 mL/kg)

black olives

shredded mild chedder cheese

fresh tomatos

Optional ingredients include:

salt. helpful if spices need to be ground

cilantro. to be added to the beef

celery. raw, lightly cooked, or well-cooked

alfalfa sprouts

fresh spinach

inflammatory agents. habañeros, jalapeños, etc.

mushrooms

DIRECTIONS:

1. Chop the black olives.

2. Slice the fresh tomatos, optionally discarding the gooey
parts.

3. Place the olives, tomatos, and cheese in the eating area.
These toppings will need to be ready to use when the taco
shells are hot.

4. Place the beef in a wide pan on a large burner. Ground beef
will need to be broken up as it cooks; chopped beef needs to be
stir-fried and may require oil. When using high-fat ground beef
you may wish to: add water to float the fat, cool to solidify
the fat, remove the fat, drain the water, and reheat.

5. Add lots of cumin to the beef. Cumin is the magic ingredient
that makes a taco taste like a taco. You may also add cilantro,
celery, or mushrooms.

6. Prepare the shells. Pre-made shells should be proped up on
each other and/or on cardboard, then heated in the oven. Do not
brown them. Plain corn tortilias need to be fried. You may use a
deep-fat process, going one at a time and using a large spoon to
form the shells into the normal U shape. Pan frying in 1/4 inch
to 1/2 inch of oil will also work; be sure not to let the
tortilias stiffen prior to being bent into the normal U shape.

7. Place hot beef into a taco. To avoid cracks, it is important
to do this first when using pre-made shells. The heat and moisture
of the beef will soften up the bottom of the taco just enough to
prevent cracking.

8. Place cheese onto the beef. The heat of the beef should slightly
melt the cheese. You may wish to microwave the taco a bit,
especially if the cheese is cold or if you are using low-fat cheese.

9. Place chopped olives, tomatos, and any other vegatables onto the
cheese.



Taco