Mexican Quinoa Salad with Shrimp

Here's an easy recipe for a light and refreshing quinoa salad with sauteed shrimp.  This can be served warm, chilled or at room temperature.  Here's how to make it:

Taco Salad

Taco salads are one of my favorites!  It's not the healthiest salad for you, but it's really tasty and flavorful and really satisfies.  This recipe uses my Taco Seasoning and my All Purpose Taco Meat.  The rest is just adding some of your favorite toppings!  Add anything you'd like.  It will turn out great!

All Purpose Taco Meat

Taco meat is a great recipe to have under your belt.  It can be used for so many different things.  Tacos, obviously, but it can also be used for burritos, taco salads, casseroles, sloppy Joe's, tostadas, chili, you name it!  It's easy and versatile.  Here's how to make it:

Taco Seasoning

This is my recipe for a simple, all purpose taco seasoning blend.  It's great for ground beef for tacos, burritos, or even sloppy Joe's!

Cilantro-Lime Rice with Black Beans

I love rice.  It is one of my favorite ingredients.  You can use it in soo many different ways.  It never gets old because there is always something new you can do with rice!  I never cook rice the old fashioned way.  Bringing water to a boil, add rice, simmer 20 minutes... snoooore.  It's just boring and not for me!  I'm always looking for ways to make plain rice more flavorful.  This cilantro-lime rice with black beans is one of my favorites.  I'm not a huge fan of cilantro, but I do think it belongs in certain dishes.  You can use as much or as little cilantro as you'd like.  I don't use much at all!  Too much of it tastes like dish soap to me..blah! I just use enough to get the flavor of it but not to over power the whole dish.

Ellen's Guacamole

This recipe can be made in a food processor if you prefer a smooth guacamole, or you can small dice all the vegetables to make it chunkier.  I like a semi-chunky guac!