DURRELL’S TACO SALAD

Since we had just finished with a Festival and a Family Feast, I started playing with F-words. The F has gotten a bad reputation because of just one word; however there are Famous F-words too.  The word Feast is used in New Mexico and Native American areas for large meals. I think it is so much more Festive than pot luck which denotes the Fact you need luck when picking out your Food.

The First F word is Father. Durrell was our daughter-in-law’s Father. She and her siblings were so very Fortunate to have had him as their Father as he devoted his life to being a Faithful Father. He was always there when they needed him. The Facts are that his children and their education were the most important part of his life.  Even after all his children were married and had children of their own, all any of them had to do was pick up the phone and say, Dad, and he was there with his paint brush or roofing hammer or whatever.  He even built a house for his youngest.  He was always there when needed to get a job done for his Family.  The last quality time that Tom and I spent with him, before his passing, was laying sod at our mutual kids new house.

DURRELL VB

Coast Guard Festival packs the town with people. Business not essential to the festival shut down, parking is non-existent, and getting around town is impossible. Families plan their vacations around the Saturday of the Festival when there is a parade, craft show and fireworks. Four years ago, on a Friday night before the Saturday of Festival, we unexpectedly lost Durrell. The lost caused a wound that only gradually heals as time passes; but the Family has Fantastic memories.

As Festival comes around every year, it brings forth not only the memory of his passing, but all the wonderful memories of him and his life. One memory is his Fabulous Taco Salad that he made for our son and his daughter’s wedding reception. Durrell, his wife and I catered the reception. Durrell’s salad was one of the most requested recipes of the wedding dinner.

ENJOY!!!  WE DID!!

This year for our Family Feast during Festival, I made Durrell’s Flavorful Taco Salad for the Feast. He always made it in a punch bowl as this is a big salad. However, it is Fine left-over if any is ever left. Even treasured Family recipes do not remain static. In 2009 Cindy made this great salad even better by using Nacho Cheese chips and Romaine salad.

DURRELL’S TACO SALAD
2 heads lettuce, shredded; Cindy uses half Romaine lettuce
1 onion, diced
1 (16oz) pkg. shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tomatoes, diced
1 lb. ground beef
1 (16oz) bottle Thousand Island salad dressing
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 (16oz) pkg. taco chips, Cindy uses Doritos Nacho Cheese chips

INGREDIENTS.  Head lettuce, Romaine lettuce, Taco seasoning, Ground beef, Onion, Tomatoes, Thousand Island dressing, Taco chips, and Cheese.

In a frying pan, brown meat and drain well. Cool. In a bowl, mix dressing with taco seasoning and set aside. In a very large bowl or punch bowl or large pan, toss together the lettuce, tomatoes and onion. Add the cheese, meat and dressing. Toss together. Break up chips and add to salad. Toss and chill.

Fry ground beef, breaking into small pieces, until thoroughly cooked.  Drain and cool.

Durrell always used Kraft dressing.  Mix taco seasoning and dressing together.  Chill.

Dressing ready.

Chop up the onion and tomatoes.

Shred Head lettuce.  Shred Romaine.

Mix lettuces together in a very large bowl.  Add cooked ground beef.

Add onion.

Add tomatoes.

Add cheese; I used sharp Cheddar and a mix of Cheddar and Jack cheese with Jalepeno peppers.

Crush taco chips right in the bag by pressing down on the bag a few times.

Mix salad with dressing then add taco chips and mix.  We were in a hurry and added everything at once and mixed.  Salad was Fabulous.

Our Daughter-in-law took over the task of mixing as I would have had it all over the counter.

This is such a great salad.  Easy to make and Feeds a crowd at a Feast.  Enjoy!!!