Mini Taco Bites

BOOMER!

Who is ready for football season?!?!

I am so excited!! It's my last OU football season as a University of Oklahoma student, and it's bittersweet. I want to go out with a bang!

I think my favorite thing about football season is the tailgating. It's fun, exciting, entertaining, and social. All of my favorite things. 

Not to mention the tailgating food! It's that time of year to cook up some unique finger foods, whether you'll be eating it on the couch at home watching the tube, or 500 feet away from the stadium under a tent with the rest of your tailgating group. 

 Alright. So let's talk tailgating food. Let's talk Mini Taco Bites.

These can be made with any kind of meat, any kind of cheese, any kind of taco topping. You can fill it with plain cheese if you don't eat meat, you can cook up ground beef instead of chicken, I bet even shrimp could be good! Or just a ton of vegetables! Use your imagination!

Pico De Gallo

Alrighty. If anyone likes Mexican food, then you know that pico de gallo is the best place to start trying to break into the cooking world of dips, quesos, and tortillas.

I've posted a recipe on how to make flour tortillas that are better than any I've had at a restaurant. I've made countless dishes with enchiladas, burritos, quesadillas, queso, chips, etc.

I just googled this recipe, and found it on Spark Recipes. I, of course, modified it to make it taste better. I gave it more kick, and more cilantro, because let's admit it: Cilantro wins it all. It is THE BEST herb out there!

Southwest Black Bean Salad

Hello to all my blogging fans!

I hate to break it to the dessert lovers, but I am currently on an experimental diet to see if I can get rid of this nasty cellulite under my butt. (I know we all have it, but I'm going to try to get rid of it!) With that being said, I can no longer eat starches. So there went all the desserts I love baking. I'm sure this diet won't last long, so hang in there! I've got some fabulous cupcake recipes I am dying to try!

I ran across this delicious recipe and got really excited. I looooove black beans, and CILANTRO! My favorite. My absolute favorite. So I whipped this up, but of course a little bit differently than the original recipe.

Homemade Flour Tortillas

I love making things from scratch. They just taste a million times better. I grew up in Houston, therefore homecookin' and Mexican food are my two favorite cuisines. Mmmmmm.

I happened upon this recipes because a long time ago, I made homemade flour tortillas at my grandma's house, and I could never figure out how to make the recipe again, so I started searching around and found this...

Let me just say: ah. may. zing.  They were just like I remembered. Flaky, delicious, thick, and perfect! And soooo easy to make.

I only have this one photo, but I'll be making them again soon, so I will post a picture then.

INGREDIENTS
3 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
3/4 c. shortening
3/4 c. hot water

DIRECTIONS
1. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Using your hands or a pastry cutter or fork, cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly. Add in the hot water to make it moist.

2. With hand or fork, knead dough. Once it's kneaded, cover with a towel and let it rest for an hour.

3. Pull apart 10-12 balls. Using a rolling pin or a tortilla press flatten them to about an 1/8 inch thickness.

4. Cook in a skillet for 1-2 minutes until they are no longer doughy.