Taco Salad: Guilty Pleasure

Who said you can't have Doritos for dinner?? I found a way to make it possible and acceptable, with the help of a dear friend named Pete. It's his staple to bring to a summer BBQ, but I've made some simple changes to his already simple recipe. This recipe is super quick, packed with protein, and is quite the crowd pleaser. OK, so maybe Doritos aren't actually nutritious, but a healthy diet is all about giving in to your deep desires every once in a while, in moderation. If you are serving kids, what better way to get them to eat black beans & soy than to throw in some cheesy, crispy, crunchy treats. I know a lot of kids that would eat just about anything if you told them the recipe included something that came out of a vending machine. For the non-Doritos fans, you can surely substitute your run of the mill corn chip, but I'd certainly add some shredded cheddar to get the cheese effect. And what the heck, maybe add the shredded cheese anyway! Also, as I modified some of the ingredient's from Pete's original recipe, there is so much you can do to this to make it your own or play into your family's favorite tex-mex ingredients. My recipe is actually vegetarian, but if you are die-hard meat eaters, you could substitute 1 lb of ground beef or turkey. I'm definitely a meat lover, but find the veggie option makes me feel less guilty for the Doritos indulgence, and it's quite delicious. I didn't use olives this time, but that could be a great addition. In stead of straight tomatoes, mix it up with fresh pico de gallo. Add some jalapenos or chipotles in adobo for some spice. The options are endless, but I'm just going to start with the simplest version. In about 20 minutes, you can serve an army if you need to!

I should also add, that for grown ups, this dish is best served with a fresh, cold margarita while sitting on the deck. For kids or designated drivers, lemonade is a perfect match. Enjoy!

1 bag of pre-chopped Romaine lettuce

1 can of black beans

1 can of sweet kernel corn

2-3 tomatoes (or 8-10 cherry tomatoes would work as well), chopped

1 12 oz. bag of veggie crumbles (I use Morning Star Grillers found w/ frozen foods)

1 package Taco seasoning

Catalina salad dressing, to taste

Large bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos

Toss the veggie crumbles in a fry pan and cook as directed on the package; add the taco seasoning like you would to make any taco meat (usually 1 package per 1lb of meat/12 oz veggie crumbles). If you are using real meat, brown it. Let the crumbles cool - if you're in a crunch, throw them in the fridge for a bit after cooking.

Drain the beans & corn well, and chop the tomatoes to your desired bite size. Combine the lettuce, beans, corn, tomatoes, and crumbles in a big bowl, then toss with the Catalina dressing. As you portion it out, grab a hefty handful of Doritos (oh yeah!), gently crumble them in your hands, and toss them on top of each dish.

Serves 4-6, depending on appetites ... enjoy!

*Tip...If you are planning to have leftovers and enjoy it again tomorrow, add the dressing and Doritos individually on each serving rather than mixing them in with everything.