If you don't think that packet of "Taco
Bell" spices you buy in the grocery stores makes meat that tastes like the stuff they
use at the giant Mexican food chain, you'd be correct. If you want to clone it right
you're going to have to whip up the taco meat from scratch using this original TSR recipe.
Once you've prepped your meat, these steps will help you build your tacos the Taco Bell
way, without any pesky talking Chihuahuas running through the kitchen. Check out the
streaming video, and Todd will show you how it's done while you follow along with the
recipe. Now all you need is some hot sauce to top 'em off, right? Be here next week to
clone Taco Bell's tastiest (and hottest) hot sauce.
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
dash garlic powder
1/2 cup water
12 taco shells
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1. In a medium bowl, combine the ground beef with the flour,
chili powder, salt, minced onion, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Use your hands
to thoroughly mix the ingredients into the ground beef.
2. Add the seasoned beef mixture to the water in a skillet over medium heat. Mix well with
a wooden spoon or spatula, and break up the meat as it cooks. Heat for 5 to 6 minutes, or
until browned. The finished product should be very smooth, somewhat pasty, with no large
chunks of beef remaining.
3. Heat up the taco shells in a 375 degree oven for about 5 minutes.
4. Build each taco by spooning 2 to 3 tablespoons of the meat into a warm shell. Spread
some of the shredded lettuce over the meat and then sprinkle some cheese over the top.
Repeat with the remaining ingredients and serve immediately.
Makes 12 tacos.
Seasoning Mix
This one is exciting, amigos! It's TSR's first original clone recipe
with an instant streaming
video demonstration. Now you can be whisked to the secret underground test kitchen as Todd
Wilbur explains the clone recipes for you right here on the recipe page so that you can
easily
follow along. Pretty cool, huh? Just be sure you have at least a 56K modem connection and
get the Windows Media Player from the menu page. This is a simple recipe to clone the
contents of the seasoning packet which bears the Taco Bell logo found in practically all
the
grocery stores these days. You probably expect the seasoning mix will make meat that
tastes
exactly like the stuff you get at the big chain. Well, uh, nope. It's more like the
popular
Lawry's seasoning mix, which still makes good spiced ground meat, and works great for a
tasty bunch of tacos. But if it's the mushy, grey meat that high school kids across the
country
are now packing into tacos and burritos as they work diligently at America's largest taco
joint
to pay off the used Pacer, you'll want to be back next week.
1. Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Prepare taco meat using 1 pound of ground beef and following the same spunky directions
as on the original package:
"1. BROWN ground beef; drain. Add seasoning mix and 3/4 cup of water. Bring to a
boil;
reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. HEAT taco shells or tortillas as directed on package.
3. SERVE bowls of seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato and cheese. Pass the taco shells
or tortillas and let everyone PILE ON THE FUN!"