Taco Bowls & Almond Joys

I LOVE tacos. I also love bowls. I sort of love salads, but I REALLY love rice and quinoa more :)

That is why you see more rice-based bowls than lettuce-based on this blog. 

I 100% need more lettuce in my life, but eating lettuce for dinner just means I'll eat more ice cream and/or brownies later.

When I eat RICE, I'm stuffed like a pigeon at the end of my meal and only have room for about a 1/2 cup's worth of ice cream...unlike the post-salad 1/2 gallon and/or Menchie's run.

This makes sense to me.

But getting back to the whole taco/bowl talk, I decided to make this little meal on a whim tonight, with the attempt use up a few produce items that needed cookin'!

I made a simple quinoa/rice mix for the base that consisted of 1 box Near East Spanish Rice Pilaf and 1 cup dry quinoa (rinsed and drained). I brought 3 1/3 cups chicken broth to a boil, then added the quinoa, rice, rice seasoning packet, and olive oil. Simmered for 20-25 minutes to fluffy perfection!

While the rice was cooking, I sauteed 2 chopped jalapenos, 3 bell peppers (1 orange, 1 red, 1 yellow), 1 can drained corn, 1 can drained black beans, 3 cloves garlic (minced), and 1 lb organic, grass-fed ground beef. Once the meat was cooked and the vegetables were softened, I drained and seasoned with 1 packet organic taco seasoning (mixed with 3/4 cup chicken broth) and added about 1 cup cubed avocado. I simmered the seasoning with the mixture on low for 10 minutes.

Served on top of Mexican Quinoa Rice and topped with grated cheese! Easy and delicious!

Then I proceeded to stuff myself silly with these homemade Almond Joys that my mom made for my sister and me this past weekend. 

DAN.GER.OUS.

Chopped up and sprinkled on top of ice cream?? 

THANK.YOU.MOMMA.

(image)

The recipe that she used is off of Pinterest, but here is a link to Joy The Baker's epically delicious Homemade Almond Joys, since I'm not sure which Pinterest version she used. 

Joy is a GENIOUS. Feel confident in using her recipes :)

I used to HATE coconut...and almonds...and dark chocolate...AND bell peppers. Now I can't seem to get enough of them! So weird.

Any foods that you disliked in your past and now love???

I love changing taste buds :)

Happy Monday!