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Carol's latest book, Gluten-Free Cooking for Two, is now available. Designed for small households, each perfectly-proportioned recipe serves two people. You will eliminate unwanted leftovers and reduce waste when you cook right-size meals with the 125 recipes in this book. Enjoy!! Celebrate with me!!! Gluten-Free Cooking for Two has won two awards: named one of ten "Best Gluten-Free Cooking Books in 2017" by Healthline.com and won a Silver Medal in the 2017 Living Now Book Awards in the "Natural, Nutrition, Organic, Vegetarian" category.
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Carol's in the kitchen, cooking up recipes for her next cookbook and www.CarolFenster.com

Watch for Carol on "Creative Living with Sheryl Borden," a PBS-TV show airing on your local PBS station during 2017-2018.

Join Carol at the National Western Complex, Expo Hall level 2 in Denver on April 21,10:30 am during the GFAF Expo Conference. See you there!

Super Bowl Tacos: Easy Eats for Game Day

[donotprint]Regardless of how you feel about the teams in this year’s Super Bowl, most of us will undoubtedly be watching on February 3. For me, it’s more about the ads than the game itself. As you may have guessed, I’m not a huge football fan.  In fact, I once took my knitting to a neighborhood Super Bowl party and was never invited back! I actually found the knitting more fascinating then the game.

Crispy Beef Tacos

Crispy Beef Tacos

But I like the ads, so I will tune in on February 3. I also like listening to the media analysis afterwards about how the ads did/did not do a good job of reflecting current societal issues (such as racism, MeToo movement, politics, etc.) As a sociologist, I find this more interesting than how the teams perform.

WHAT FOOD TO SERVE?

But enough about football.  I do get excited about the food for Super Bowl Sunday. What should we eat?

I want something that can remain appetizing despite 3 ½ to 4 hours on the serving table. The food should also be packed with flavor, yet modifiable so that guests who like less spice can be accommodated. It should be easily and quickly assembled so I can fill my plate and get back to the television without missing anything.

And, I want to return to the serving table again (and again) throughout this nearly 4-hour event. And the side dishes and dessert must be tasty, but easily served. So, here’s my menu for Super Bowl Sunday. You can add your favorite dishes as you see fit.

Super Bowl Menu

Tacos (meat served from a slow-cooker to stay warm). All other ingredients in bowls.

Guacamole and chips

Mixed-Green Salad

Dessert: cookies or brownies[/donotprint]

SUPER BOWL TACOS

Reprinted with permission from  Gluten-Free Cooking for Two by Carol Fenster (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017)

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Anything goes when it comes to tacos. I usually use leftover cooked meat (usually browned ground beef or shredded pork) that I have in the fridge or freezer, but you can use browned ground turkey as well. Instead of crispy tacos, you can also use soft white or yellow corn tortillas and pinto or black beans in place of meat, if you’re vegetarian. Just check the label on the tortillas to make sure they are gluten-free since some corn tortilla brands also include wheat. This recipe makes 6 regular-size tacos; simply double the ingredients to make 12 tacos.

3/4         cup browned ground beef or turkey (or shredded pork)

Salt and pepper, to taste (optional)

1 ½ – 2   teaspoons chili powder, or to taste

1/4         cup diced red onion

1/2         diced tomato 

1/4         cup store-bought Mexican salsa

1/4         cup shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese, or a mixture of cheese

1/2         cup shredded iceberg lettuce (or lettuce of your choice)

1/4         cup chopped fresh cilantro

6            gluten-free crisp corn taco shells

[1] In a small skillet over medium heat, toss the browned ground beef with the salt and pepper (if using) and chili powder and then heat to serving temperature.

[2] For each taco, layer the beef, onion, tomato, salsa, cheese, lettuce, and cilantro in a taco shell. Serve immediately. Makes 6 tacos.

Per taco:  505 calories; 23g protein; 32 g total fat; 6g fiber; 33g carbohydrates; 79mg cholesterol; 466mg sodium