Oven-Baked Tacos & A Very Happy New Year

I love new beginnings.  Even though January 1st is really just a calendar day, it gives you a chance to reflect, to breathe, and to soak up and remember all of the the moments, learning opportunities, milestones, laughs, tears, and smiles from the past year.  

We spent our New Year's Eve at one of our favorite authentic Italian restaurants in the Northside, Enoteca Sogno. Our reservation was at 5:30 so we could bring our little Seashell, and every bite, sip, and smile was savored.  

I found the idea for these Oven-Baked Tacos on Pinterest a couple of months ago, and I have to say we have made them for dinner at least 5 times.  Hubby adores Mexican food, and I usually prefer soft tacos to crunchy tacos when we make tacos for dinner.  The idea for oven-baked tacos is that you get the best of both worlds.  The outside of the taco stays crunchy, while the middle is soft and cheesy and melt-in-your-mouth good.

Bon Appetit!

Oven-Baked Tacos
Source: adapted from a picture I found on Pinterest

Ingredients:
6 hard taco shells
1 container ground turkey or lean ground beef (you will have extra for taco salads later!)
1/2 onion
1 can refried beans
a couple of big handfuls of shredded sharp cheddar
chopped romaine
sour cream
1 avocado, diced into big chunks
your favorite salsa
few shakes of oregano, paprika, garlic powder (or any other spices you love to use)
S & P

The Process:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Line a baking dish with foil, and line up the taco shells like soldiers.  Brown the meat and onion together in a skillet with a little olive oil.  Add in your spices and some S & P.  Set aside.  Warm the refried beans in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

Prepare the toppings (chop the lettuce, set out the sour cream and salsa, dice the avocado).  Set aside for assembly later.

To get your tacos ready, spoon a bit of refried beans into each taco shell and spread out a bit onto each side.  Add in a few spoonfuls of the meat/onion mixture.  Add some cheddar cheese on top.  

Bake the tacos in the oven for about 15 minutes.  Remove from oven, and add the toppings to the tacos.  Serve with Spanish-style rice or on their own.  They stand beautifully on their own, and that is how we enjoyed them each time!

Cheers to 2014!