Taco Salad

Taco salad is a fun way to add some variety to the normal meals we have each week. It's flavorful and colorful but also so easy to put together. If your local store does not have pre-made taco shells, there is also a taco shell kit that is sold at the commissary (for my military wife readers). It will require you to form an uncooked shell over a bowl cutout and bake it.

Ingredients:
4 taco shells 

1 pound ground beef (Ground turkey can also be used as a healthy substitute) 

1 package taco seasoning

1 package lettuce

2 tomatoes
2 avocados
2 cans sliced black olives
1 package of Mexican variety shredded cheese
1 container of sour cream (optional)
about 1 tsp pepper for the ground beef or turkey. 

Directions: 

1. Cook the beef or turkey thoroughly in a skillet. Mix in pepper and taco seasoning.
2. Slice the tomatoes and avocados. 
3. Fill shell about 1/2 way with lettuce. Top with cooked beef or turkey. 
4. Divide the drained sliced olives, tomatoes and avocados between the 4 shells. 
5. Sprinkle cheese over the top of each. Add sour cream if desired. 
6. Serves 4. Enjoy! 

Bowtie Pasta & Chicken

This weekend I decided to make up my own creation. I am always trying to find inexpensive meals, and this one was so easy and requires little ingredients.

Finished Pasta

Ingredients:

1 box bow-tie pasta
2 chicken breasts
2 cups (about 1/2 a jar) red pasta sauce
1 small can sliced black olives
Shredded Parmesan cheese
Black pepper to taste

Sauce Cooking

Directions:

1. Cut the chicken breasts up into bite size pieces. Cook thoroughly. Add the sauce and allow to warm up on medium/low heat stirring frequently.
2. Cook the pasta as directed on box, usually 11-15 minutes depending on how hard/soft you like the pasta.
3. Drain Pasta in colander. 
4. Stir in the sliced olives to the sauce/chicken mixture. 
5. Ladle the sauce mixture onto a portion of the pasta and top with Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle pepper on top if desired. Serves 4.