Taco Salad

• In skillet, start to brown your ground beef or ground turkey
• Next, you can either add your packet of taco seasoning or you can add your homemade blend listed above. Add the chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, ground cumin, salt and black pepper to the meat and stir to combine.
• Add 1/2 cup of water and stir. The meat will seem a bit saucy at this point but it will cook down after a few minutes. Let the meat continue to cook until the mixture thickens.
• While the meat is cooking, chop/shred your lettuce and dice your tomatoes. It's helpful to put them in separate containers so the family or friends can assemble their own salad.
• Once meat is finished turn off the heat and get ready to assemble

Assembling the Taco Salad

• If you've bought pre-made taco bowls, go ahead and use those. I would normally assemble as follows:

  Taco Meat on bottom

  Lettuce on top of taco meat

  Tomatoes on top of lettuce

  Cheese on top of tomatoes

  Dollop of Sour Cream
• You can also make these more like nachos, and put a layer of nacho/tortilla chips on a plate, put the taco meat on top of that, add the cheese next, then lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. Top with your favorite salsa and you are set. Add Jalapenos if you wish. Also, see my recipe for home made guacamole.