#Tex-Mex Food

[rabbitcruiser]

National Crunchy Taco Day 

There’s nothing quite like a delicious crunchy taco to provide super-satisfying flavor for lunch or dinner.

Whether making crunchy tacos at home or grabbing up a few at a local restaurant or chain store, National Crunchy Taco Day is a delicious day that is worth celebrating!

History of National Crunchy Taco Day

The word ‘taco’ can trace its beginnings to the 18th century when workers in the silver mines in Mexico started using the name for little tortilla wrapped meats. This working class food was named after the ‘taquito’ of gunpowder wrapped in paper that the Mexican miners would use to blow up the rocks. The name migrated to the US as the taco developed its crunchy side.

While typically served at Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurants, the crunchy taco has decidedly American roots. In fact, in some Spanish-speaking communities, it is referred to as the “anglo taco”.

Tacos are traditionally served on soft corn tortillas in Mexico, but the crunchy fried shell is a more recent version of the food. The first written recipe for tacos written in English was included in a cookbook in 1914 and the recipe was written for tacos that were meant to be fried.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that the founder of Taco Bell helped make famous the idea of creating a fast way to make crunchy taco shells. Glen Bell had grown up in California where crispy tacos – soft tacos that were filled first and then fried – had become very popular. But the idea of frying the tacos into a U-shape prior to filling them was fairly new. So Mr. Bell decided to open a restaurant originally called Taco Tia, which then turned into Taco Bell.

National Crunchy Taco Day was founded particularly for those who really enjoy celebrating the delightful, tasty flavors of Tex-Mex foods. It’s a day to appreciate the simple things in life, like a little bit of spicy meat, some shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and so much more.

But the most important thing to appreciate about National Crunchy Taco Day? Well, it’s the crunch, of course!

National Crunchy Taco Day Timeline

1890s First taco reference

The term ‘taco’ associated with miners in Mexico is first referenced in the late 19th century.

1914 Earliest known English-language taco recipe

As part of “California Mexican Spanish Cookbook”, this first taco recipe in English is published featuring a crunchy shell. 

1962 First Taco Bell opens

This restaurant, in Downey, California, will go on to become the largest chain of fast food taco joints in the world. 

1969 Old El Paso in supermarkets

Old El Paso becomes the first national brand to offer a full line of Mexican meals in supermarkets, urging the creation of a Mexican food section.

1986 Taco Bell expands to London

Sadly, Taco Bell can’t make a go of the crunchy taco this time around and closes in London by the mid-1990s.

How to Celebrate National Crunchy Taco Day

Paying heed to National Crunchy Taco Day is certainly no burden! It’s all a delightful way to celebrate this particular taco as well as all things Tex-Mex. Have fun celebrating the day with some of these ideas:

Enjoy Eating Crunchy Tacos

On National Crunchy Taco Day, an obvious – and probably even obligatory – choice is to make sure to eat some crunchy tacos for a meal, whether lunch or dinner, or even for a snack! Crunchy tacos bring a certain kind of delight with mouthwatering flavors and delicious toppings.

Choose a basic crunchy taco with simply meat and cheese, or add a few more toppings to make it even more tasty. Add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes and sour cream for a supreme version. Or get even more adventurous by adding other toppings such as grilled onions or chunks of avocado. And, of course, don’t forget to add a bit of spice by piling on the hot sauce!

Make Crunchy Tacos at Home

One thing that is really great about tacos is how simple they can be to make at home. But crunchy tacos also offer tons of opportunities for those who enjoy creating more complex flavors in the kitchen. Obviously, one of the most vital ingredients in making crunchy tacos at home is the need for crunchy taco shells. These can be easily sourced from a supermarket or Mexican grocery store and then heated in the oven at home. But they can also be made from scratch, for those who are feeling a bit more adventurous.

The next more important ingredient for making this dish in honor of National Crunchy Taco Day is the meat. Most people choose ground beef to serve inside of crunchy tacos, and it tastes best when it has been able to marinate in delicious seasonings for some time before serving.

While the meat is cooking, create a bar full of yummy options for topping crunchy tacos. Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, hot sauce, black beans, refried beans and guacamole are all items that people love to pile on top of their crunchy tacos. Choose a variety of options and let everyone make their own decisions about which topping options are their favorite!

Host a National Crunchy Taco Day Party

Tacos are a fun food to celebrate, and they’re especially easy for groups of people to pitch in. Set up a crunchy taco bar in the breakroom and work and have everyone bring a different topping. Or invite friends over to the house after work for a tasty taco bar at home. Plus, at home, it’s fun to be able to add some traditional Tex-Mex drinks such as pitchers of Margaritas, cold Coronas, or Jarritos for the kids.

While crunchy tacos are certainly the star of the show, it might also be good to add other elements to the party to get everyone in an even more festive mood. Decorate with a Tex-Mex theme and put on a playlist with traditional Mexican themed music, like from a Mariachi band. It might even be a fun idea to ask guests to dress up in a serape, sombrero, or some other nod to traditional dress south of the border, just to complete the occasion. For dessert, serve some churros, sopapillas or flan.

Get Creative with Crunchy Tacos

For those folks who tend to have crispy tacos on the regular, whether making them at home or ordering them at a restaurant, it might be fun to get a bit more creative with recipes in honor of National Crunchy Taco Day.

When making crunchy tacos at home, try out some of these ideas that can add a bit of flair for the occasion:

Crispy Tofu Tacos – fill crunchy shells with fried tofu and add toppings.

BBQ Crunchy Tacos – substitute regular ground beef with barbecue.

Potato Tacos – made with mashed potatoes, cheese, lettuce and sauce, this one is great for vegetarians.

Fried Avocado Tacos – just like the crispy tofu tacos, also for vegetarians!

National Crunchy Taco Day FAQs

Are Taco Bell crunchy tacos gluten free?

Although they are made with corn and no gluten, Taco Bell crunchy tacos are not made in a completely gluten free facility. 

Are crunchy tacos Mexican?

Crunchy tacos actually seem to have been created in the United States, likely by Mexican-Americans.

Do crunchy taco shells go bad?

While they probably won’t be bad for you, they can certainly get stale. 

What are crunchy taco shells made of?

Crunchy taco shells are made from limed corn flour, palm oil and salt.

How to make crunchy taco shells?

Crunchy taco shells can be made from corn tortillas that are either baked or deep fried.

Source

[mapsoffun]

Seriously, the best thing about downtown Dallas was the sheer amount of food highlights within immediate walking distance of our hotel. Uno Mas Tex Mex was a wonderful, low-key spot to get some excellent Tex-Mex, including the bonkers quail. 

It’s bright and cheerful and right across from a giant eyeball sculpture that is creepy as fuck, but I love a good, strange piece of art on display to the public. It’s technically on private property so I don’t call it public art, but I find it 1000% hilarious that people get married on the lawn in front of this sculpture. 

[doingdisneywithmark]

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe ’s Brand-New Menu

Saddle up for flavor at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café! With a new create-your-own Tex-Mex menu, you’re in for a delicious adventure. Don’t miss the tasty bowls & more. #DisneyEats #MagicKingdom #TexMexDelights

News From Disney Destinations: Get ready to round up your appetite because there’s some exciting news from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café at Magic Kingdom! Starting today, this popular spot has a brand-new “create-your-own” menu that’s as fun as it is tasty. And trust me, your taste buds are in for a real treat! The new options are packed with yummy Tex-Mex flavors straight out of the American…

[kpgresham]

THE NAME OF THE ROSE IS—wait, how do you pronounce that?

BY HELEN CURRIE FOSTER April 1! It’s spring, with a riot of bluebonnets this year. Plus paintbrush! Winecup! Verbena! Prairie celestials (so lovely)! And within the fence, safe from our marauding burros, the roses are opening their petals and sharing their beauty.  Humans have been growing and hybridizing roses for millenia. I favor those with deep rose fragrance. This year the sniff prize…

[toyastales]

Ribeye Tacos

[thelcsdaily]

Steak Fajitas with Grilled Onion and Peppers

There's not much else on my mind when I develop a craving for beef fajitas till I eat them.

Mesquite wood was used for cooking. In addition to providing a very strong and unique flavor, mesquite also yields the hottest cooking coals. At home on the backyard barbecue using a mix of mesquite bits and charcoal briquets that can be purchased at any hardware store.

If you can, I suggest looking for sun-dried chile powder because it's a huge improvement. Consider the flavor difference between sun-dried tomatoes and oven-roasted dried tomatoes to understand that this is sweeter and less bitter than the usual mechanically dried chile powder. Internet sourcing is fairly simple.

After taking the vegetables off the grill, they should still have a lot of bite; you want the soft tortillas, crisp toppings, and tender meat to all have different textures. Sprinkle with fresh lime juice.

As Americans, we tend to look at Mexican food as nachos, which is not Mexican food really - they don't eat them.

- Anthony Bourdain

[fattributes]

Ground Beef and Bean Enchiladas

[fatty-food]

Cheesy Taco Fries with ground beef, poblano peppers, onions, Tex mex cheese and Yukon gold potatoes. (via Instagram)

[daily-deliciousness]

Texas chili - (no beans)

[dress-this-way]

The BEST Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe (5-Star Rated!)

[rabbitcruiser]

International I Hate Coriander Day

We don’t like to be filled with hate here at Days Of The Year, but sometimes you need a day when you can have a good old moan about something, right? Well, International I Hate Coriander Day gives you the perfect opportunity to do so! Yes, there are a lot of people out there who love coriander. However, some people hate the little green stuff, and it can be incredibly annoying when they see a meal come out at a restaurant and it has green leaves dotted all over the top. We know that some of you out there are nodding your head right now!

Learn about International I Hate Coriander Day

We all love food, right? However, we all have foods that just don’t do it for us. For example, there are a lot of people that think that putting pineapple on a pizza is criminal! There are then people that don’t like eating seafood of any nature. And now, we have another group of food haters, and of course, we’re talking to those that can’t stand the herb coriander. Trust us, there are more of you than you may realize!

So, what is it about coriander that people hate so much? Well, there has even been some research on the subject. It is believed that genetics could play a key role when it comes to the hate for coriander, as per a study that was carried out at Deakin University.

History of International I Hate Coriander Day

So, where did this hate for coriander begin? Well, it all started a few years ago when a group on Facebook popped up called I Hate Coriander. The group involved a bunch of like-minded individuals who simply hated the herb! They would send messages and create posts about their dislike for coriander and their sheer bafflement at anyone who enjoyed eating it. You may think that this was a tiny little group, but no; it has hundreds of thousands of members! In fact, the group even sell their own merchandise, so it is clear to see that there is a big worldwide group of people who simply hate coriander.

How to observe International I Hate Coriander Day

So, how can you celebrate International I Hate Coriander Day? Well, an obvious place to begin is by making sure you do not have coriander with any of your meals. If you are someone who doesn’t mind the herb or even enjoys eating it, you should try and refrain from eating it on this date.

If you are someone who considers themselves part of the I Hate Coriander crew, you may want to celebrate this day by voicing your hate for the green herb. You can post social media memes and graphics that show your dislike for coriander. You may even want to consider getting yourself some of the I Hate Coriander merchandise and sporting it for the day so that everyone you come into contact with can understand your sheer hate for the widely used herb.

Source

[thelordismylightandmysalvation]

Habanero Black Bean Dip – Cabot Creamery

[seasonalwonderment]

Mexican Chopped Salad - The Café Sucre Farine

[pagan-stitches]

As is becoming our tradition, we did Mexican and Tex-Mex for Thanksgiving dinner.

Fajitas, carnitas, pinto beans, Spanish rice and cornbread.

[toyastales]

Creamy Green Chile Chicken Fajitas.