Need a Great Cinco de Mayo Menu?

• Prepare all ingredients as stated on ingredient list- dicing onion and green chiles, mincing garlic, seeding and chopping jalapeno, slicing green onions, and juicing limes.

  NOTE: Make sure that you wear gloves when handling the jalapeno and keep hands away from face while preparing.
• Add all ingredients except for cilantro into a food processor and process for 10 seconds or until pureed desired consistency.
• Add in the cilantro and pulse for 2 seconds.
• Serve with your favorite tortilla chips or Mexican entrees. Enjoy!

• Measure all ingredients and add to a bowl.
  
• Mix ingredients together.
  
• Store taco seasoning mix in jars or paper envelopes and label to have ready to use when making tacos.
  
• TIP: While you have out all of the ingredients for this mix, make several batches and package them ahead to have ready in your pantry the next time you want to make tacos! A TRUE time saver!

  NOTE: Make one batch at a time to ensure that you have the proper amount of ALL of the ingredients.
• Store seasoning in a dry place. Date each package to let you know when they were made.

• Slice small sweet snacking peppers or larger bell peppers into strips.
  
• Add a small amount of butter on one side of each tortilla. Be careful–You want just a tiny bit so that the quesadilla will toast.
  
• Place one tortilla, buttered side down, into a skillet large enough to hold it.
• TIP: Roasted cherry tomato slices are the key to adding in flavor with these. Make them by slicing and drizzling with a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic and roast in a 400° oven for 20 minutes or so until tomatoes have caramelized.
  
• Scatter roasted tomatoes and peppers across the tortilla.
  
• Top with cheese and the second tortilla, buttered side out.
  
• Toast on one side. Turn and toast on the other side until cheese is melted.
• Serve immediately with a bit of salsa, peppers, avocado or guacamole. Enjoy!
  

• Gather your ingredients.
  
• Add ground meat to Dutch oven and add diced onion.

  TIP: Ground turkey needs no draining grease from meat after cooking.
  
• Add taco seasoning and cook meat and onion.
  
• Add tomato juice, tomatoes, black beans, chili beans and corn and cook to heat.
  
• Simmer until heated through and desired consistency.
  
• Serve with your favorite garnishes: sour cream, cheese, cilantro, avocado, tortilla strips, and/or green onions.

Tortilla Strips

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Cut corn tortillas in 1/2" strips and add to a parchment lined baking sheet with sides in a single level.

  TIP: Pizza cutter is great for this task.
  
• Add olive oil to a sprayer and spray tortilla strips and sprinkle with salt. If you don't have a sprayer you can add to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil.

  NOTE: Using a bowl may cause strips to break apart more than a sprayer.

  TIP: Lime Sea Salt is a favorite one to use with these.
• Add to the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes and then turn over and bake for another 5-10 minutes until desired crispiness.

  Feel free to spray oil and sprinkle with salt again when you turn them over.
  
• Add to soup or store in an airtight bag or container until needed.