Spicy Beef Taco Salad

Ingredients

• 5 cups reserved meat mixture from Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes
• 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 2-1/4-oz. can sliced pitted ripe olives, drained
• 1 tsp. taco seasoning
• 1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into 6 thick slices
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 oz.)
• 1 cup chopped tomato (2 medium)
• 1/3 cup dairy sour cream
• Assorted tortilla chips

Directions

1. In a saucepan stir together meat mixture from Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes, beans, olives, and seasoning. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
2. To serve, place lettuce slices on serving plates. Add meat mixture. Top with cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream. Add tortilla chips.

Makes 6 servings.

Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

• 2 lb. lean ground beef
• 2 16-oz. jars salsa
• 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (8 oz.)
• 1-1/2 cups shredded carrots (3 medium)
• 1-1/2 cups finely chopped red and/or green sweet pepper
• 1/3 cup tomato paste
• 2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
• 1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 kaiser rolls, split and toasted

Directions

1. In a skillet cook beef over medium heat until brown, stirring to break meat in pieces. Drain fat. In 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker stir together beef and remaining ingredients (except rolls).
2. Cover; cook on high-heat setting 4 to 5 hours or low-heat setting 8 to 10 hours.
3. Reserve 5 cups of the meat mixture for Spicy Beef Taco Salad (below); cover tightly, refrigerate. Serve remaining meat mixture on toasted kaiser rolls.

Makes 6 servings plus additional meat mixture for Spicy Beef Taco Salad.

Veggie Pasta Toss

Ingredients
onion
mushrooms
zucchini
broccoli florets
green, red, and yellow peppers
fresh spinach
tomato
Italian seasoning

cooked whole wheat pasta

Directions
Chop and saute onions, mushrooms, zucchini, broccoli florets, and peppers. Add spinach until just barely wilted. Toss in diced tomato for a minute. Season with Italian seasoning, and toss with cooked pasta.

Vegetable Tofu Scrambler

Serves: 3
Serving Size: 4 oz.

Tofu is high in protein and calcium, low in fat and sodium, and cholesterol-free. Reprinted with permission from HOW IT ALL VEGAN! by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer (www.GoVegan.net), Arsenal Pulp Press.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 medium onion
• 4 - 5 mushrooms, sliced
• splash of olive oil
• 1 (12-ounce) pkg firm tofu, crumbled
• 1-2 tsp curry powder
• pepper (to taste)
• salsa (to taste)
• 2 stalks green onions, chopped

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large saucepan, add the onions and mushrooms to a splash of oil and saute on medium-high heat until the onions are translucent.
2. Crumble tofu and add to saucepan.
3. Add the curry and pepper.
4. Sauté 10-12 minutes until moisture has evaporated.
5. Add salsa and green onions and scramble on high heat for 2 to 4 minutes.

Note: you could also add any other veggies you have kicking around.

NUTRITION INFO
Calories: 133
Fat: 7.8 g
Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
Protein: 9.4 g