Friday, January 12, 2024

The Legend of Taco Frittata

I am a sucker for pie; even for things that just look like pie. I always have been. and make no excuses. I am also a big fan of eggs, and cheese, and peppers, and beef and salsa, and Tex Mex seasonings. OK, the truth is, I just like to eat. I feel better now, having confessed to you guys.



Philosophically, we all know that man (I'm using "man" here as a general term for all of humanity) cannot live by bread alone. Occasionally he might get a Jones for some sort of taco like food. A few weeks back, I found myself in a Taco dish kind of mood and this is what I used to solve my craving.

Some culinary sources suggest the frittata may have come into Italy and Spain from ancient Persia. I do know most Mediterranean countries have similar egg based, omelet-like dishes, containing eggs, meat, vegetables, and possibly cheese. For me, the frittata is a dish I make when I want pie but don't feel like making a pie crust. Maybe it is quiche, without a bottom crust. Of course, real men don't eat quiche. Evidently, they eat Frittata. Is this dish Persian? Italian? Duh! It's a rip off dish, made using Taco stuff, the international food that we like to think of as Mexican.




Anyhow, it's good stuff, and a great dish to eat on a dreary overcast night while watching Jeopardy, Wheel, or Family Feud and sipping on a Schlitzwiser or Diet Dr. Pepper.

Here is what I came up with the night I wanted a Taco but had none of those corn shells that break when you take a bite and dump your filling down the front of your shirt.

Taco Frittata 

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef, or maybe chuck or sirloin
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 Jalapeno pepper, diced, after removal of white membrane and seeds
1 small Mexican Calabaza zucchini squash, julienned
1/4 cup Salsa (Your brand)
4 eggs
4 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon salt


Seasoning Mix

1 Tablespoon Lawry's garlic salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 Tablespoons cumin
2 teaspoons oregano
1 Tablespoon paprika
1 Tablespoon parsley flakes
1 Tablespoon chili powder



I like to cook this dish in a pie pan and eat it sliced like a thin wedge of pie


The taco meat mixture is intended to be fairly dry, with a bit a (mild/medium/hot) salsa as the only wet ingredient before adding the egg and heavy cream.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Julienne calabaza squash (I just like the way it tastes) and cook in microwave (lightly salted) for 3 minutes. Precooking the calabaza squash forces some of the liquid out.




Prep onion and peppers.


Cook beef in skillet until crumbled (I usually add some salt while cooking).




Gather together seasonings and stir into to ground beef.




Add precooked Calabaza Squash


Then stir in the diced onion and peppers and cook for a minute or two, maybe five.



Stir in salsa and continue cooking a bit longer.



Transfer this mixture to a pie pan that has been sprayed lightly with Pam spray



Mix eggs and heavy cream




And pour over the mixture in the pie pan


Top with cheeses



Bake in oven at 350 f until the egg mixture is cooked and the topping is melted – maybe 20-30 minutes



Allow to cool a few minutes, then cut a slice and eat. I guess you could do salad if you wanted some and were more industrious than I was. The wife may have had salad with her's. I can't remember, but the photos seem to indicate I didn't. They also seem to miss the second slice I had that night.






All in all, a nice meal.

Thanks for looking at my recipe post.

God Bless You.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just use a pack of taco seasoning to season the meat. Much easier.

Anonymous said...

It is a Moorish creation and travelled with them to Spain. Then it travelled the globe with the Spanish and Portuguese until you have the dish appearing in both Manila and Mexico City, but with distinctly different flavors. Similar with Menudo, Adobo, Empanada, etc., existing everywhere the Spanish conquered.

Anonymous said...

9:21, the difference between you and the Bear is that you are a cook and he is a chef.

Anonymous said...

Everything I like. Looks delicious.
Try the Shepherds pie from Costco. They are made fresh at the store. Ground beef, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots in a flaky crust. Good comfort food.

Anonymous said...

This looks SO good. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

That looks delicious. Yum Yum! My meals are from the Microwave only! Going to Taco Bell and get me one.

Honk for the Mayor! said...

Thanks, Bear! You never disappoint!

Robert W Neill Jr, Land Broker said...

ZeroBear PolyBear should open a restaurant or at least become a guest chef in one already open.

Anonymous said...

I always enjoy a freshly ground hamburger patty with double sharp cheddar.

Anonymous said...

ZeroBear PolyBear should open a restaurant or at least become a guest chef in one already open.

He's been in the kitchen at the Krystal for years at the corner of County Line and Ole Canton.


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.