Naomi Dawson
Professor Miller
ENG 110 H2
Mom’s Taco Salad
Everyone has a certain thing that they associate with family and being home – the thing which gives them that classic warm and fuzzy feeling inside. For some people, this thing could be a certain place such as grandma’s house or their favorite restaurant, a specific smell, or even a person. Mine, however, happens to be my favorite meal – my mom’s taco salad. Although it isn’t a complicated thing to create, nor is it the fanciest meal I’ve ever had, it is my favorite because of how it brings my family and me together for the night.
As many people can probably relate, my family and I are busy individuals. My mom works till about 6 pm every single day, and if my dad isn’t away traveling for the week (which is rare) he has to wake up unreasonably early, prompting an early bed-time. Most days I would go to school all day, then work until 8 pm, if not later. Clearly, our schedules don’t exactly match up; therefore, if there’s a night when we’re all home to eat dinner together, it’s a really special thing. I remember when I was younger, I used to find it a burden when my mom would call up the stairs telling me to come and help her make taco salad. I knew this meant I’d be chopping veggies and fruit for the next half hour or so. But now, I can just appreciate my family being home all at the same time and gladly come down to help.
What makes my mom’s taco salad unique is that we basically put everything but the kitchen sink in it. Obviously, we are not very picky eaters, as we will throw anything that sounds good to us at the moment into it. We love our fruits and veggies, and in our eyes: the more the better! Blueberries, strawberries, apples, peaches, mandarin oranges, avocados, tomatoes, red, green, and yellow peppers, cucumbers, onions, scallions, celery, and any other kind we may have in our refrigerator are tossed into the mix. We also can’t forget the shredded cheeses – cheddar and monterey most often, or the nuts – we’ve found almonds or peanuts taste the best. We put all of this over a baby mixed greens blend and top our concoction off with taco hamburger meat and crushed Nacho Doritos. We lay out whatever dressings we have in the fridge on the table, but I usually opt for italian. When finished, we all sit in our usual seats around the dining-room table and enjoy the flavors together as a family.
It is very easy to make, as it is just a salad after-all. The part that makes it time-consuming is the preparation of all these fruits and veggies. My mom and I set up cutting boards next to each other and start chopping away. We are able to catch up and enjoy each other’s company. My dog, Rizzo, comes in the room and patiently waits by our feet for us to toss her a strawberry or some other tasty treat. My dad also walks around the kitchen eagerly waiting for us to finish so he can make himself an oversized plate. We usually play music off of my phone and sing our favorite songs together. When we finish each ingredient, we toss it into the bowl and move onto the next. While we’re chopping and slicing, singing away, we have hamburger meat, blended in taco seasoning, sizzling on the stove behind us. This time together may seem minor to some people, but to me, it’s incredibly important.
I gave my mom a call the other day and asked her a few questions about her taco salad. First, I asked what her relationship with the dish was and what it meant to her, she replied “It means that you and I can enjoy a meal packed with nutritional value, such as vitamins, proteins, and minerals. I like how it promotes energy and makes us feel healthier. It also allows us to spend time together talking about our day, what’s on our minds, people, plans, news, etc. It brings us together and gives our bodies, minds, and souls good times and fabulous treats. It’s a win-win!” As you can see, she feels passionate about making us healthy meals and keeping us as healthy as possible. Then, I asked her why she believed that I liked the dish so much. She said, “I think you enjoy the variety of flavors that are in there. You have always been a big fan of salads, anyways.” Next, I asked her what her favorite meal was, she told me that, “Salads are definitely one of my favorites. Seafood is another. If we are cooking and eating them together, then they are equal to me. That is my favorite.” Lastly, I asked her when the first time she ever made this salad was, and she said “When your father and I first met, I was always trying to find new exciting things to make us for dinner. One day, I thought I was just going to be making tacos for us, but I got the idea of putting it in a salad when I noticed a bag of lettuce and other veggies in the fridge. It was a hit with the both of us, so I just continued making it from then on.” I told her am really grateful that she did.
The main picture that I am trying to paint here is that there is more to a person’s favorite meal than just how it tastes. It matters because a person’s favorite meal can mean peace, relaxation, home, family, togetherness, love, and really anything. A person’s favorite meal is more than just how it tastes or how full it makes their stomach.
Recipe:
INGREDIENTS –
(Any of the following ingredients and measurements can be changed based on your taste preferences.)
- Spring Mix or any choice of lettuce for the base – 1 pkg.
- Strawberries – 1 cup
- Blueberries – 1/2 cup
- Apples – 1/2 cup
- Peaches – 1/2 cup
- Mandarin Oranges – 1/2 cup
- Avocados – 1 cup
- Tomatoes – 1 cup
- Red, Green, and Yellow Peppers – 1/2 cup
- Cucumbers – 1 cup
- Scallions -1/4 cup
- Onions – 1 cup
- Celery – 1/2 cup
- Shredded cheese of choice – 1 1/2 cup
- Almonds or Peanuts – 1 cup
- Nacho Doritos – 1 bag
- Hamburger meat – 1 pkg
- Taco flavoring packet
- Salad dressing of choice
DIRECTIONS –
- Turn stove on med-high heat and cook hamburger meat until brown.
- Add taco packet to meat and season to taste, and once it’s cooked, set aside.
- Chop each of the fruits and vegetables into bite-size pieces.
- In a large bowl, add the package of spring-mix, the fruits and veggies, and the nuts.
- Toss it all together.
- Then, grab a plate and take a serving of salad.
- Add a scoop of taco meat on top and then a serving of cheese on top.
- Take the Doritos and crush them over the top of the salad.
- Add the salad dressing of your choice and enjoy!
