DIY Taco Bar aka Fork Tacos

 

 Deconstructed aka “Fork” Tacos

 

Kids can be notoriously fussy eaters. My parents didn’t normally let us get away with being picky. We were of the eat-it-or-you-can-go-to-bed-hungry generation. I noticed that, later on, with my younger siblings and my cousin, who was even younger than all of us, they started to cave and even made separate kinds of potatoes to suit them. I think that we’d drained them by the time the younger crowd came around.

So, in honor of the picky ones and those still adamant about not eating food unless it is prepared the way they want it to be done, I’m sharing a Family Favorite recipe that lets kids choose how to put together a meal that hopefully parents will find acceptable as well. These made an appearance after a scouts’ camping trip and then shortly thereafter entered the weekly rotation at our house. 

Supporting ingredients are optional depending upon the tastes of your child/ren. The preparation process can be sped up with the aid of an able "sous-chef." For a child who is old enough, it is also a good way to teach him/her/them knife skills or how to grate lots of cheese. In the case of the main ingredients, I’d allow 1/3 to 1/2 cup per person, per serving. For the supporting ingredients, I’d allow 1/8 to 1/4 cup. The other really great thing about this meal is that it can scale up very easily and quickly to accommodate a crowd or when extra siblings, spouses, and kids show up for supper!

DIY Taco Bar aka Fork Tacos

Prep Time: Allow an hour pulling things out of the refrigerator to putting dishes on the table. If you have assistance with chopping and prepping, it can take about 1/2 an hour.

Main Ingredients:

Your favorite brand of tortilla chips (any flavor will do)
1 lb. ground beef (or ground turkey or cut up chicken)
1 packet taco seasoning or family favorite Mexican spice mix
1-16 oz. can refried beans
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1-4.5 oz. can chopped, green chilies
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 dash each salt, pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander
1 package cheddar or mixed Mexican cheeses, finely grated (or grate the cheese by hand)

Cook meat and taco seasoning according to directions on the back of the packet. Prepare beans by heating up 2 tablespoons (Tbsp) olive oil, adding 2 cloves chopped garlic and 1-4.5 oz. can chopped green chilies. Sauté for 5 minutes before adding the beans. Mix together, cook for another five minute, and adjust salt, pepper, and ground cumin and coriander to taste. The supporting ingredients can be prepared at the same time as the meat and beans are cooking.

Supporting Ingredients:

Tomatoes, chopped
Green onions (white and tender green parts), chopped

Green pepper, chopped
Red pepper, chopped

Avocado, sliced or chopped
Lettuce, chopped
Black olives, chopped or sliced
Sour cream

The Key: The Assembly Line aka the DIY part

Chips – Meat – Beans (if using) – Cheese

All other ingredients in order in which they are listed

To Serve:

Place everything in bowls, each with its own serving utensil. Everyone takes a plate and is allowed to prepare and organize his/her/their plate as he/she/they deems appropriate. Some parental supervision is needed to ensure that there is at least some chips-meat-cheese balance, although creativity and food exploration is encouraged. This is a great dish as it has lots of colors, textures, and flavors. Use tortilla chips to scoop everything up and dig in - forks are optional!

Buon appetito!