Mexican Night at Home! Fun Easy and Healthy Too! Tacos or Burritos

We have made these a few times with our children.  This recipe can be adapted for Tacos of Burritos!

Tip: Washing hands first ~ Children helpers ages 3 and up can help measure and add ingredients, stir and help get ingredients out of the fridge.  We do the chopping they do the measuring.  We do this at the table or breakfast bar so it is at their level.  They can also help fill their own tacos at the table.  We remind our children that when eating the tacos (hardshell) that they may break and that is ok.  If it happens to us we show them how to eat it if it does break.  We have had big tears at the table when their prize taco starts to break when they are eating it!   Helping them understand that even the adult eating the taco ends up with a messy one too!!

What you will need:
Serves 6

Cook one cup of rice with salt and pepper.  Let sit and fluff with fork.  May need to add a little olive oil or butter to loosen up rice for easy spooning!  Set aside.

1 pound of browned hamburger (we use lean ground chuck)
2 Tablespoons of your favorite tomato juice
2 Tablespoons your favorite mild salsa
1 Teaspoon chili powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon black pepper
1 Teaspoon sugar

Brown hamburger and drain.  Add all of the other ingredients and heat thoroughly.  Set aside.

One can of black beans with 1/2 cup of salsa and one chopped up tomato.  Heat thoroughly and set aside.

Chop up lettuce and tomatoes for topping and shred your favorite cheese.

Tacos...hard or soft shell.  May be warmed in oven, 200 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Hard shells on a flat large pan.  Soft shells flat in a small glass or metal pan with an equal size pan sitting on top to keep the moisture in and flat.  

We make the rice and beans as our children do not always want the meat.  We do have a child that can be sensitive to textures.  The rice and beans offers a vegetarian option that still has protein.  Some mix the rice and bean mixtures together, but some really prefer it to be separate.  If you wish to mix them together....you mix the bean mixture in after the rice is cooked and fluffed, then you reheat it thoroughly.

We hope you enjoy your Mexican night at home!!