Hello,

Here is a layered taco salad that you might like:

Salad:
1 medium head iceberg lettuce, chopped
4 cups cooked white meat chicken, cut into 1/2 inch dice
2 large tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/2 inch dice
1 cup sliced, pitted ripe olives
1/2 cup scallions, sliced including 1 inch of green leaves
10 pieces bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 1/2 lb)
2 cups crushed corn chips

In a large salad bowl, preferably clear glass or plastic, layer in this order the lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, olives, scallions, bacon and cheese. Can be prepared up to 12 hours in advance to this point. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Dressing:
1 large clove fresh garlic
2 medium avocados, peeled and pitted
3 tablespoons strained fresh lemon juice
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel knife, drop the garlic in with the processor running to mince it. Then place the avocado, lemon juice, and sour cream in the work bowl and process until smooth. Add the vegetable oil, chili powder, salt, pepper, cumin and Tobasco. Process until well mixed. Transfer to a bowl or jar, cover tightly and refrigerate until time for final assembly.

About 5 minutes before serving, remove plastic wrap from salad bowl. Spoon dressing over the top. Sprinkle with the crushed corn chips. Toss well before serving.

seagrass

I make this Cooking Light recipe quite often. My boys love it.

Three-Step Taco Salad

One of EthanÂs favorite "taco" inspired recipe!

1 pound ground sirloin
1 (1.25-ounce package) taco seasoning
3/4 cup water
2/3 cup fat-free sour cream
2/3 cup bottled salsa
8 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
4 cups (4 ounces) bite-sized baked tortilla chips
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes, drained
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 (15-ounce) can kidney or black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup sliced ripe black olives

Cook the beef in large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine sour cream and salsa in a small bowl.
Combine the beef mixture, iceberg lettuce, tortilla chips, tomatoes, 1/2 cup cheese, and beans in a large bowl. Drizzle the sour cream mixture over the salad, and toss gently. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese and black olives. Serve immediately.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 2 cups)

CALORIES 217 (24% from fat); FAT 5.7g (satfat 2.3g, monofat 1.5g, polyfat 0.7g); PROTEIN 16.8g; CARBOHYDRATE 26.1g; FIBER 5g; CHOLESTEROL 34mg; IRON 2.2mg; SODIUM 757mg; CALCIUM 171mg;
Cooking Light, JULY 2003

Thanks Ladies, I will try them both!! Also to Seagrass I was wondering if you would like to share some stories about you Australian Shepards, I own a very human like Border Collie. You can email me if you like. Thanks, hope to hear from you.

Hi Mom inNB,

I almost said something to you about your Border Collie! They're great dogs and those I've met have been much better behaved than Aussies, but we love our Aussies anyway. I don't know how to post photos on these forums.

We don't live on a farm, but our first Aussie (a black tri, now 6) really belongs where the action is - she's a tremendous worker and a very smart cookie. Our second, a male blue merle, comes more from show stock. He's a handsome, sweet, funny dog. But not a worker LOL!!! A trickster, a lover boy, but no work ethic!! I've never met a dog with a sense of humor before but boy, does he have one. He's almost 4 and still acts like a pup.

They're both "pet puppies" but what a misnomer.

Good to talk to you. Hope you enjoy the recipe!

seagrass

Hi Seagrass. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to email you if I wanted to talk about something other than the post. That is why I emailed! Anyway, my Border Collie is so funny. She loves the car. It is hard to go anywhere without her, and if we do take her she will not get out when we get home!! I have had to pull her out before. She herds the neighbours dog and cat. She has herded me before. When we first got her I wasn't sure if I was going to love her or not. She thought that my Hubby was #1, she was #2 and I was #3, after seeking some advice from a dog trainer I certainly let her know that she was at the bottom of the pack!! I wouldn't trade her for the world now. I am a nut when it comes to my animals!

Here is Bailey and Alley getting cozy!
I don't know how to make the picture any smaller, I am new at all of this!!

Oh, how beautiful - PKGuy would love to see this picture too!

The other day Ken was taking his 'power walk' and he ran into our neighbor in a different neighborhood walking a border collie (she has her own dog-walking business). She told him that she was looking for a home for this guy - his owners just can't give him the exercise he needs. I know he was interested, but its just not the right time for us to have a doggie who needs a lot of exercise, darn it.