It's Taco TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!!!!!!!!!!!!

If any one out there watches Jersey Shore, you know that Pauly D, and Vinny have a specified time for "Putting on their Clubbin T-shirts" it's called "T-shirt tiiiiiiiiiiiime"!!! They sing that in a horrid opera voice that is just plain hilarious. Well on April's blog its "Taco Tiiiiiiiime"! Yes, its a recipe for the best tacos in the West. None of this soft taco, flour tortilla business. I'm going to show you tacos my Mammas way, old school "carne molida tacos", (ground beef). Now I know everyone has their own way or even their own idea of what a taco should be, but this is what I grew up with, and this is how MY Mom makes them, and deep down inside, no ones tacos are better. Some might disagree, but that's ok. Hey maybe some would even make their own post about tacos and share with me? I would love that! Ok so let's get started, here's what you'll need.

Ground beef
Corn tortillas, the thinner the better
3 potatoes (peeled and diced really tiny)
Vegetable oil
Dices onion, freshed minced gaaaaalic
Iceberg lettuce shredded
Diced tomatoes
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream (Daisy baby.)
salsa is optional
Salt , pepper, & Cumin (comino)

Ok so first things first, start by browning your beef, onions, and garlic in a pan, do not add oil, the beef will have enough fat for browning.

While the meat is cooking you will want to prepare your toppings, shred your letttuce in thin long strips, dice your tomatoes, and shred your cheese. I think its kind of fun to let everyone fill their taco like they want to.

Halfway through the meat cooking its now time to add your seasonings, listed above, here is what it looks ike. Please feel free to cut back on the salt, or pepper, but not on the cumin if possible. It gives a very Latin flavor, and the meat really needs it.

You might notice the meat and potatoes starting to stick, if it does, or the meat looks dry, add some water and let it steam, we want the potatoes to be fully cooked. Nothings worse than anyone chomping on raw potatoes, Could you imagine if someone asked "is this Jicama"? Hahaha

So when your meat is done, give it a flavor check, and if all is good then allow it to cool a few minutes off the heated burner. Now it's frying time. You want to get about a cup and a half of veggie oil in a pan, on medium to high heat. While that heats up to temp, take a handfull of tortillas and heat them up for about 3 minutes. This is just to make the tortillas flexible so they don't crack on you.

Then you take a tortilla and put a heaping spoonfull of the meat mix and fold your tortilla in half.

Slowly and carefully use tongs to lay the taco into the hot oil and let it cook for about 3 minutes or less on each side or until golden brown. You could also tap the tortilla with a fork to see if it sounds firm enough to be crispy. I hope this makes sense, then flip and repeat.

and....

Once its cooked on both sides then you should have a platter with napkins ready to catch as oil and to drain them.

Woo hoo! Now comes the fun part, assembling your tacos "your way". Its all about what you like and how much of what you like. Here is a picture of mine :) we didn't have any salsa because I didn't have a blender at the time , so we had Tapatio....it was still beyond "Yummy".

God bless everyone reading this post. Our time here on Earth should be joyful, and we should be thankful for the things we do have instead of focusing on what we don't have. I am so thankful to God for tacos, and the wonderful tradition of food, family, friends, and happiness. :)

Enjoy Amigos!