Veggie Tacos with Rice and Black Beans

Moms, do you ever wonder how to get your kids to try new vegetables? Tacos is a good way to get the whole family to try new things

Taco seasoning mix
5 tablespoons chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar


Taco filling

3 bell peppers any color cut into strips
1/2 yellow onion cut into strips
1/2 fresh tomato cut into strips
1 zucchini cut into strips
1 yellow squash cut into strips
Juice of half a lemon


Beans
1 can black beans
2 tablespoons taco seasoning

Rice
1 1/2 cups brown rice
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 cups water

Chipotle Guacamole

1 avocado diced
2 cloves garlic pasted
1/2 teaspoon salt (used to paste the garlic)
1/4 yellow onion minced
1/2 fresh tomato diced
Juice from half a lemon (no seeds)

Start the rice first because it will take the longest to cook. Add the olive oil to a 2 quart sauce pan over medium high heat then add the rice and taco seasoning let toast until the spices become fragrant (just a couple of minutes) then add 4 cups of water . Bring this to a boil then reduce heat cover and simmer until rice is done. Add more water if needed as it cooks. While the rice is cooking make the guacamole by adding everything together in a bowl and serve chunky or smash it with a fork or potato masher. Put the beans and the taco seasoning in a 2 quart sauce pan and let simmer until the rest of the food is done then for a refried bean texture you can mash these with a potato masher or leave them whole. Now it is time to make the star of the show. Take all of the veggies that have been cut into the shape and size of match sticks and place them in a 10 inch skillet over medium high heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Let cook for 5 minutes then add the taco seasoning and mix well to coat all of the vegetables. The zucchini, squash and tomatoes should make enough liquid that no water should be necessary. Add the juice of half a lemon and let cook until vegetables are tender and most of the liquid has cooked off. serve this on warm whole wheat tortillas with shredded cheese and instead of shredded iceberg mix it up and use some sweet baby spinach or even mixed field greens. This should be a delicious addition to your dinner table. If you are not interested in making you own taco seasoning two packets of store bought taco mix should be enough for this recipe. For questions about this recipe or any others please feel free to email me at alesia.leach@gmail.com