New menu planner needs help!

[ISAIAH30_18]

I'm sooooooo new at trying to make "meals"....what does everyone have with tacos? Like as a side dish?
I know a lot of people don't do a side dish with tacos, but I always feel like something is missing without a side dish.

Any ideas?:confused: :confused:

[Linda in MO]

How about spanish rice or refried beans? Sometimes I will just cut up some fresh fruit and serve it with supper if I don't know what to serve as a side.

[ISAIAH30_18]

ugh oh....this is where being a picky eater is going to be a problem.....I don't like rice or beans!!! can you believe it???

Fruit though that is an idea....I may go looking for options on fuit side dishes.

Just seems like there should be SOMETHING that goes with tacos!!! :)

[SusanT]

You don't like rice?

My favorite side with tacos is Green Giant Mexicorn - the corn with peppers in it. Yummmy

[Varaile]

You don't like beans?!? Ooo...refried beans with some melted cheese! Yum yum!

How about corn cake of some kind? You could make your own or purchase something like Chi Chi's corn cake mix and serve it plain or spice it up with some canned green chilies.

[KathrynY]

I got this recipe from one of those "Beef - It's What's for Dinner" cooking flyers and use it with spicy and/or Mexican style dishes.

Tangy Corn Relish

1 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 red or green bell pepper, chopped
1 can (8 3/4 oz) whole kernel corn, undrained (I like the white shoepeg corn, although I'm sure you could substitute fresh in season)
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (or more to taste!)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 cup sliced green onions

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add bell pepper. Cook and stir 3 minutes. Stir in corn, vinegar and ground red pepper; continue cooking, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with garlic salt, add onions to skillet. Cook 1 minute or until heated through.

[Deanna]

Wow I can't believe somebody doesn't like rice AND/OR beans!

Well, for southwestern/Tex-Mex, a good side would be as mentioned earlier, a corn dish; how about that Chevy's stuff you get a little scoop of? I posted the recipe here some time ago.

Other than that, fresh fruit would be great.

I'll bet you don't like guacamole, either, do you??? (wink wink)

Let me see if I can find that corn stuff...

Deanna

Here is Chevy's recipe...
for Sweet Corn Tomalito! Enjoy!

from Chevys & Rio Bravo™
Fresh Mex® Cookbook


Sweet Corn Tomalito
Serves 4 to 6

Here's that wildly popular sweet corn pudding that shows up as a little side dish on a lot of our combos. If you can't get good fresh corn, use frozen corn, thawed and drained.

6 cups fresh corn kernels
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1/2 cup prepared masa for tamales (see note)
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup cornmeal
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Blend 3 cups of corn kernels and the milk in a blender or food processor until smooth. Whip the butter, masa, and sugar together in the food processor until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add all ingredients, including the puréed corn and the remaining 3 cups whole corn kernels, and mix well. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Set the pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough cool water into the roasting pan to reach 3/4 inch up the outside of the 9 x 13-inch pan.

Bake for 1-1/2 to 2 hours, or until the corn mixture registers 175 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and the corn mixture is set. Scoop out portions of the pudding and serve hot.

Note:
If fresh masa is not available, use masa harina and adjust the ratio of dry masa to milk (liquid) as directed on the package.

[Gail]

ISAIAH30_18,

You might want to have a run through old threads, in the event you want to check out other ideas for Mexican side dishes. Try running a search on Mexican (upper right hand corner by FAQ) and click "search topic names." I know there have been some other veggie ideas, 'cause I've posted a lot myself.

Another thing, which I didn't post, and I'm afraid you'd have to wing it insofar as proportions are concerned, is fideo. For some reason I never think about fideo, and it's a good alternative to rice. The method is basically to break up and brown some vermicelli in oil. Slowly, or it will burn. (Warning, this is messy business. The stuff tends to sprout wings and fly.) Let it cool and break it into smallish pieces, around an inch or so. Sauté some chopped onion until slightly browned, then add chopped green pepper and saute until slightly softened. Then toss in the fideo, some tomato sauce, water or broth and garlic salt. Cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed, about 10 or 15 minutes. This is kind of a Mexican rice-type thing, using pasta instead of rice. Browning the pasta gives it kind of a nutty undertone and it would work great with tacos. (My mom usually serves it with chicken, but it would work fine with tacos.)

Another thing which is kind of fun with tacos, if you're up to it. Don't just do the lettuce, tomato and cheese thing. Try serving with sliced olives, assorted salsas, green onions, cilantro, guacamole and sour cream in addition to the usual accoutrements. Kind of mixes things up a bit for a change.

[AD]

I would base the decision on what's IN the tacos. There are so many different things people put in their tacos (meat, turkey, chicken, fish, cheese and more). Cornbread is a good suggestion, but I don't think I would want cornbread if the tacos were made of corn tortillas. It's just a matter of personal preference. If you are using corn tortillas, you might consider flour tortillas on the side.

Another factor to consider is the size and amount of taco(s) you want to have. If you have a large taco or several small ones, you'll want a smaller and lighter side dish like a salad, fruits or vegetables. If you are just having a small taco, you might want something a little more like a bread or grain item.

[Deanna]

So, Gail...fideo is Spanish for Rice A Roni??

(When I first started cooking, Rice a Roni was a standard side-dish. The procedure for cooking fideo sounds suspiciously like RAR!!!)

d

[Gail]

Deanna,

Kindasorta. Of course there's no rice in it. And browning the pasta gives a nutty taste Rice A Roni doesn't have. And it doesn't taste like cardboard box!

[ISAIAH30_18]

These are all great ideas!!!! Thanks everyone!!! I grew up with very PLAIN food so I am trying to branch out! :D

My food picky-ness is very texture based for some reason....and beans?? ewwww, really bad texture!! :)

As for the rice....well, all my friends that know the story of why I don't like rice laugh and share it often.....although I am getting better at allowing it to be on the same plate with other food I'm eating, which is a huge step!!!! :)

Thanks to everyone who responded!! If I am a responsible BB user I'll let you know how the dinner turns out! :p

Kim