Kids Cook Monday: Vegetarian Tacos

My family loves taco night. I especially appreciate this dinner because it is such a quick meal to prepare and there are so many tasks for my kids to help out with in the kitchen.

This recipe is specific for creating vegetarian tacos, but the same method and ingredients can be used make traditional meat tacos, just substitute the vegetarian taco filling with ground chicken, turkey or beef.

• Taco shells
• Shredded cheese
• Plain Greek yogurt (healthy sour cream substitute)
• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Vegetarian taco filling (see recipe below)

Side Dish Suggestions

Consider serving your vegetarian tacos with the following side dish options:

• Near East Spanish Rice
• Trader Joe's Frozen Super Sweet Corn

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb Morning Star Meal Starters Soy Crumbles
• 1/2 cup cooked black beans
• homemade taco seasoning (see recipe below)

1. Heat 1 tablespoon cooking oil (I prefer using olive oil) in large pan
2. Add 1 lb Morning Star Meal Starters Soy Crumbles and 1/2 cup cooked black beans
3. Once soy crumbles & beans are heated thoroughly, add content of taco seasoning, along with 1/2 cup of water
4. Continue cooking until water is absorbed

Store bought taco seasonings can have lots of added ingredients as preservatives and to prevent caking, but if you cook often enough, you probably already have everything you need to make your own taco seasoning. Not only is this a healthy alternative it will save you money.

Taco Seasoning Recipe

• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Place taco shells on cookie sheet and heat in oven for about 3-5 minutes
3. Remove from oven & add shredded cheese to each taco
4. Return tray to oven for another 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese
5. Layer the following ingredients in order to each taco shell:
   1. melted shredded cheese
   2. vegetarian taco filling
   3. plain Greek yogurt
   4. lettuce
   5. tomato

Suggested tasks for younger children

• mixing spices for homemade taco seasoning
• layering cold ingredients inside taco shells, such as lettuce & tomatoes
• setting table

Suggested tasks for older children

(proper safety precautions and supervision needed)

• shredding lettuce & cheese using food processor
• dicing tomatoes
• stirring ingredients on stove top
• assembling tacos
• setting table

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