Take To School Taco Bar Recipes

TAKE-TO-SCHOOL TACO BAR

Steps:

• Fold 1 slice roast beef inside each of 2 soft tortillas and sprinkle with cheese. Pack in the biggest compartment of the lunch box. Pack other compartments with guacamole, salsa, sour cream and other favorite toppings. Seal and send off to school.
• Grate tomatoes on the largest holes of a box grater into a bowl all the way down to the skins. Discard the skins. Grate the onion into the tomato. Stir in olive oil. Season with salt, to taste. Serve with cilantro leaves on the side, or stirred in, if desired.
• Scoop the flesh from the shell with a spoon into a medium bowl. Squeeze the lime juice over the avocado and stir to coat evenly. Add the salt. Use a fork to stir and mash into a chunky guacamole. Stir in tomatoes or fruit, if desired.

MAKE YOUR OWN TACOS BAR

Steps:

• Chipotle Turkey Taco Filling:In a small skillet preheated over medium high heat, add oil and turkey breast meat. Brown meat 2 or 3 minutes, then add onions and garlic. Cook onions and meat together for another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in chipotles, chili powder and tomato sauce. Season your filling with salt to your taste. Stir 1/2 cup water into your filling. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until ready to serve.
• Pork and Bell Pepper Filling:Heat a small to medium skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and pork to hot pan. Break up pork as it browns, 2 to 3 minutes. Add peppers to the pork and season mixture with cumin, cayenne sauce, allspice, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to moderate and cook filling 5 minutes longer. Add 1/2 cup water to the pork. Reduce heat to low to keep filling warm.
• Combine all Pico de Gallo ingredients in a small bowl and serve.
• To assemble bar, arrange taco shells next to the stove top. Serve the fillings from the skillets they were cooked in. Place toppings in small dishes on opposite side of the stove top. Tex Mex Red Beans and Rice or store bought refried beans make a great side dish.

DESSERT TACO BAR

Steps:

• Cut six 4-inch circles of parchment paper. Prop up an oven rack on the counter, using cans of vegetables or beans; the rack should be elevated a few inches.
• Melt the marshmallows and butter together in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the cornflakes. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet.
• Using the parchment circles as stencils, cut the corn treats into circles with a paring knife. Leaving the parchment on, mold the circles into a taco shape. Place the tacos, parchment down, into the oven rack so that the bottom of the tacos touch the countertop. (If they don't touch, lay the cans on their sides to lower the rack.) Let the tacos set up for 5 to 10 minutes, or until dried and crisp.
• Once the tacos are hardened, fill them with ice cream using a 2-tablespoon scoop, then sprinkle with rice cereal. Freeze until ready to serve. (When freezing, it's best to arrange the tacos snugly in a baking dish so they stand upright.)
• To serve, set up a toppings bar of diced strawberries, whipped cream, green shredded coconut and yellow and orange chocolate candies. Invite everyone top their taco with their favorite fixings.

TACO BAR

Steps:

• Set a 12-inch saute pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, place the onions in the pan and saute until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cumin to the pan and continue to saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the beef to the pan and cook, breaking the pieces up as they cook, until the meat is browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Season with the chipotle pepper and the salt. Add the beef broth and tomato paste to the pan and bring to a simmer. Cook the meat, stirring occasionally until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve with the garnishes for guests to assemble their tacos to their liking.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the avocado with the onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and mash with the back of a fork until mostly smooth.
• Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap (pressed directly onto the surface of the guacamole) and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
• Combine all the ingredients and stir well to combine. Let salsa sit for 30 minutes for the flavors to blend.
• Serve as an accompaniment to fish tacos, or other dishes, as desired.

TOTALLY TASTY TACO BAR

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together taco seasoning ingredients. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Saute the diced onion, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in 3-4 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more.
• Add the ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon or spatula as it browns. Drain off excess grease.
• Sprinkle 3-4 tablespoons of taco seasoning over the meat and stir until coated. Add in 1 cup of chicken/beef/vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has reduced some, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer cooked ground meat to a serving bowl and set out with other Mexican toppings in an assembly line to make your homemade taco bar!

KIDS CAN MAKE: A QUESADILLA BAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cumin, chili powder, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook 3 minutes. Stir in the ketchup and cook, stirring regularly, until the beef is browned and completely cooked through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the rice and 1/4 cup water and cook until the rice is heated through, about 3 minutes.
• Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Lay the tortillas on the sheet. Divide the beef mixture among the tortillas and top evenly with the mozzarella. Bake until the mozzarella is melted and the tortilla is beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the quesadillas to individual plates and serve with toppings.