{"id":17531,"date":"2013-08-12T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2013-08-12T14:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/?p=17531"},"modified":"2013-07-28T13:06:21","modified_gmt":"2013-07-28T19:06:21","slug":"rich-wants-to-know-how-i-make-tacos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/rich-wants-to-know-how-i-make-tacos\/","title":{"rendered":"Rich Wants to Know How I Make Tacos"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_17548\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17548\" style=\"width: 210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-now.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17548 \" title=\"basic taco goodness is one of life's simple pleasure\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-now-300x247.jpg\" alt=\"basic taco goodness is one of life's simple pleasure\" width=\"210\" height=\"173\" align=\"alignright\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-now-300x247.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-now-1024x845.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-now.jpg 1792w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17548\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">basic taco goodness is one of life&#8217;s simple pleasure<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>I think it might be<\/strong> because of my tacos that Rich is no longer a vegetarian. \u00a0\ud83d\ude09 \u00a0 Few meals rival tacos for ease of preparation combined with variety of ingredients and yumminess. So, Rich, here&#8217;s how I make mine!<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">First, the list of ingredients for the meat:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>3 pounds of lean ground beef &#8211; less than 15% fat, not because I don&#8217;t like fat <em>[you know about me and bacon]<\/em>, but because I just don&#8217;t like terribly greasy taco meat.<\/li>\n<li>1 large onion, diced &#8211; ends up being about 1.25 &#8211; 1.5 cups in volume, I have used dried minced onion a few times that you have eaten tacos here, too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17550\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17550\" style=\"width: 180px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-diced-onion.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17550  \" title=\"&lt;a href=&quot;http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/the-unexpected-patience-of-onions-in-my-southwest-idaho-garden\/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;onion fresh from the garden&lt;\/a&gt;, ready to be sauteed\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-diced-onion-300x249.jpg\" alt=\"onion fresh from the garden, ready to be sauteed\" width=\"180\" height=\"149\" align=\"alignright\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-diced-onion-300x249.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-diced-onion-1024x851.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17550\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/the-unexpected-patience-of-onions-in-my-southwest-idaho-garden\/\" target=\"_blank\">onion fresh from the garden<\/a>, ready to be sauteed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>2 large cloves of garlic &#8211; finely chopped; wish you could have been here last time when I used some fresh from my garden! Maybe you will come again soon. Granulated garlic works well, about 1.5 tsp.<\/li>\n<li>olive oil &#8211; just about 2 tablespoons for the pan before putting in the onion<\/li>\n<li>cumin &#8211; about 1 teaspoon<\/li>\n<li>oregano &#8211; dried leaves, about 1.5 teaspoons<\/li>\n<li>sea salt &#8211; a generous 2 teaspoons<\/li>\n<li>black pepper, fine ground &#8211; \u2153 to \u00bd teaspoon<\/li>\n<li>tomato paste &#8211; 6 ounce can<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The rest of the filler ingredients are the basics:<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17561\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17561\" style=\"width: 180px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-tortillas.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17561 \" title=\"lightly grilled corn tortillas\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-tortillas-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"lightly grilled corn tortillas\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" align=\"alignright\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-tortillas-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-tortillas-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-tortillas-1024x1024.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17561\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">lightly grilled corn tortillas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>diced tomatoes<\/li>\n<li>black olives<\/li>\n<li>lettuce<\/li>\n<li>Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese, grated<\/li>\n<li>sometimes <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/bacon-black-bean-burrito-tacos\/\" target=\"_blank\">our black beans<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li>avocado mash, which is easier to make a reality if I keep some halved and peeled avocados in the freezer<\/li>\n<li>yogurt (plain) usually, but sometimes sour cream<\/li>\n<li>corn tortillas, just barely browned on a lightly greased griddle<\/li>\n<li>of course, Dad adds his own things, like garden grown habeneros and hot salsa<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[hr]<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17556\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17556\" style=\"width: 180px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-onions-almost-sauteed1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17556 \" title=\"almost adequately sauteed onion\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-onions-almost-sauteed1-300x254.jpg\" alt=\"almost adequately sauteed onion\" width=\"180\" height=\"152\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-onions-almost-sauteed1-300x254.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-onions-almost-sauteed1-1024x866.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17556\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">almost adequately sauteed onion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>The first step<\/strong>\u00a0is to heat my wok on medium heat, then put in the oil. Next, the onions go in to be sauteed until almost tender and translucent. Just before I think they are done, I add the fresh garlic. If I&#8217;m using dried onion and garlic, I brown the meat first (without extra oil) and add those 2 items with the rest of the seasonings.<\/p>\n<p>[hr]<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17559\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17559\" style=\"width: 180px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-pan-thawing-the-ground-beef.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17559 \" title=\"pan thawing ground beef over lower heat before cooking according to recipe\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-pan-thawing-the-ground-beef-300x272.jpg\" alt=\"pan thawing ground beef over lower heat before cooking according to recipe\" width=\"180\" height=\"163\" align=\"alignright\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-pan-thawing-the-ground-beef-300x272.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-pan-thawing-the-ground-beef-1024x928.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17559\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">pan thawing ground beef over lower heat before cooking according to recipe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>One of the things<\/strong> I appreciate about making tacos is that it is still possible to cook them if I have forgotten to take the meat out of the freezer on time. A little lower heat and a lid <em>(it doesn&#8217;t even have to completely sit around the edges)<\/em> for a few minutes usually defrosts it enough for me to break it apart with forks. Then, I can proceed to cook it the same as I would otherwise.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Just before<\/strong> I add the meat <em>(if it is already sufficiently thawed)<\/em> I turn the heat up higher. Once the meat is broken up some in the wok, I add the seasonings, except for the tomato paste. That waits until the meat is all the way cooked.<\/p>\n<p>[hr]<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17564\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17564\" style=\"width: 180px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-add-tomato-paste.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-17564 \" title=\"the whole 6 ounce can of tomato paste\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-add-tomato-paste-300x245.jpg\" alt=\"the whole 6 ounce can of tomato paste\" width=\"180\" height=\"147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-add-tomato-paste-300x245.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-add-tomato-paste-1024x836.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17564\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">the whole 6 ounce can of tomato paste<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>There is usually<\/strong> time to prepare all the other fillings while the meat is cooking, as long as I take time to stir it periodically. Then, adding the tomato paste is sort of like a final exciting ritual, marking the nearness of taco immersion.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>It would be easy\u00a0<\/strong>to freeze some of the left-over meat for future meals. Consider doing it in thin portions, to make reheating less troublesome. But, of course, you will also want to eat some of the tacos the next day. And the next day. Because that&#8217;s just how tacos are.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_17570\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17570\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-always-too-full.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-17570\" title=\"My tacos are always &quot;too full,&quot; but I manage.\" src=\"http:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-always-too-full-300x164.jpg\" alt=\"My tacos are always &quot;too full,&quot; but I manage.\" width=\"300\" height=\"164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-always-too-full-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/tacos-always-too-full-1024x561.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-17570\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My tacos are always &#8220;too full,&#8221; but I manage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I think it might be because of my tacos that Rich is no longer a vegetarian. \u00a0\ud83d\ude09 \u00a0 Few meals rival tacos for ease of preparation combined with variety of ingredients and yumminess. So, Rich, here&#8217;s how I make mine! First, the list of ingredients for the meat: 3 pounds of lean ground beef &#8211; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,19],"tags":[70],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17531"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17531\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyimprovisations.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}