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The Taco Bar
Author: Alyice Edrich
As a youngster, most of our meals consisted of "Hamburger Helper" since, according to my mom, it was "cheap and nutritious". I suspected, however, that the real reason was because she was just too tired to cook after working three jobs.
So when she did cook, it was a real treat!
As a little girl, I could've sworn my mother was a "Secret Chef". I just knew that working in the warehouse wasn't her "real" job. How could it be when she could turn something as ordinary as tacos into a feast fit for a king?
Though I was a skinny child, I could eat like a horse when it came to my mom's tacos. I relished them. I savored every bite. And I wouldn't stop until I'd eaten at least 12 tacos—at which time my mom would simply cut me off.
Her tacos were simple: 1 pound of ground hamburger beef, 1 package of Lawry's Taco Seasoning mix, and 2/3 C water. Cook meat until nearly done, drain oil, add water and seasoning pack, lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Place seasoned meat inside a salted fried corn tortilla shell and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced onions.
For years, I loved those tacos. And I couldn't wait to introduce my kids to Nana's famous tacos. As they got older, however, they each developed tastes and dislikes for certain veggies so we created a new tradition—the taco bar.
Then she died and I lost the taste for hamburger meat. Maybe it's psychological, but I swear hamburger meat just doesn't taste the same since my mom passed away.
My kids, however, weren't thrilled with my dropping the ball on Taco night. They didn't mind if we chose a different meat, but we just had to have "Nana's taco shells". That's when I came up with my own version of the shredded pork taco and our Taco bar was back in business.
Alyice's Shredded Pork Taco Bar
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb pork roast
- 1 - 32 oz can sauerkraut
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced (or green)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 - 4 oz can chili peppers, diced
- 1 C canola oil (Crisco vegetable oil is great for crispy shells)
- 2 Tb olive oil
- 2 Tb sauerkraut juice
- 1/4 C water
- 12-18 corn tortillas
- 1 C shredded Colby/Jack cheese
- 1 C mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 C Nacho cheese, melted
- 1/2 head of Iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 1 head of Romaine lettuce, shredded
- 2 large Roman tomatoes, diced
- 1 large white onion, diced
- 1 ripe olive, sliced
- 1 small can black olives, sliced
- 1 small jar green olives, whole
- Hot sauce, to taste (we prefer Tapatio)
Spruce Up Canned Beans
- 1 - 32 oz. can Refried Beans
- 1/8 C milk
- 1/2 C shredded Colby/Jack cheese
- 1 Tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325 degrees.
- Place roast in baking dish and cover with sauerkraut. Cover with tin foil.
- Cook for 2 hours or until pork falls apart. (Be careful not to overcook the meat or it will dry out.)
- Remove pork from heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
- Remove pork from sauerkraut. Store sauerkraut and juice for another meal.
- Pull meat apart to make shredded meat.
- In a separate skillet, place 1 Tb olive oil in frying pan and heat.
- Add bell pepper and yellow onion and sauté until onions are translucent.
- Add canned chili, 1 Tb olive oil, sauerkraut juice, water, and shredded pork.
- Lower heat and simmer until ready to serve.
- While pork is simmering, dump can of refried beans into a pot. Add 1/8 C milk, 1/2 C shredded Colby/Jack cheese, and 1 tsp. garlic powder. Mix well and simmer. (This removes the "can" taste and makes the beans taste more "homemade".)
- Pour 1 C canola cooking oil in a small, deep frying pan and heat until popping hot.
- Using a tong, gently place the tortilla into the hot oil, then quickly flip so that both sides of the tortilla are covered in oil.
- Use the tong to gently fold the tortilla and cook for one minute on each side, or until lightly browned.
- Pull tortilla from oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and set on a paper napkin to drain.
- To serve, create an assembly line of ingredients: shredded cheese, melted cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, avocados, green olives, black olives, refried beans, and hot sauce.
- To create the perfect taco, place beans inside tortilla, top with shredded pork, then add cheese, vegetables, and hot sauce. And if you're adventurous, top with sauerkraut!
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