Monday Night Football Food Taco Bowls When you're watching the big game it's important to have some smashmouth, tough-guy food like this.

4 SERVINGS.

1.

sack sack tortilla chips tortilla chips

3.

tablespoons tablespoons EVOO EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil) (extra-virgin olive oil)

2.

pounds pounds ground beef ground beef

2.

jalapeno peppers jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped

2.

medium medium onions onions, chopped

3.

to 4 to 4 garlic cloves garlic cloves, chopped 1.

tablespoons tablespoons ground cumin ground cumin, a rounded palmful 1.

tablespoons tablespoons chili powder chili powder, a rounded palmful

Coarse salt and and black pepper black pepper

2.

firm firm Hass avocados Hass avocados

4.

plum tomatoes plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

A handful of fresh cilantro leaves cilantro leaves, chopped

Juice of 1 lemon

4.

cups shredded cups shredded Monterey Jack Monterey Jack or sharp Cheddar cheese or sharp Cheddar cheese

Lightly crush the chips by popping open the bag and giving the chips a few light whacks with a frying pan. Careful that they don't fly out of the sack-hold the bag loosely at the top with one hand while you crush the chips with the other.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the EVOO, twice around the pan. Add the beef to the skillet and brown and crumble it for 5 minutes. To the browned meat add half the chopped jalapeno, three fourths of the chopped onions, and all of the garlic. Season the meat with the cumin, chili powder, and salt and pepper. Cook them together for 5 minutes more, then add about a cup of water and reduce the heat to low. Add salt to taste.

Halve and separate the avocados. Remove the pit with a spoon. Use a small knife to dice the avocado while still in the skin. Scoop out the diced flesh and place it in a bowl. Combine the tomatoes, remaining onions, remaining jalapeno, and the cilantro gently with the avocado and dress the salad with the lemon juice, the remaining tablespoon of EVOO, and salt to taste.

Layer a handful or two of the chips into soup or chili bowls and top them with a handful of cheese. Fill the bowls with taco meat and top with more cheese, then mound some salad on top and serve.

EXPRESS LANE SHOPPING LIST.

- [image]1 sack tortilla chips tortilla chips, any brand or color (yellow, blue, red, white) - [image]2 pounds ground beef ground beef - [image]2 jalapeno peppers jalapeno peppers - [image]2 firm Hass avocados Hass avocados - [image]4 plum tomatoes plum tomatoes - [image]1 bunch fresh cilantro cilantro - [image]2 10-ounce sacks shredded Monterey Jack Monterey Jack or sharp Cheddar cheese or sharp Cheddar cheese And make sure you have the following On Hand: - EVOO - Onions - Garlic - Ground cumin - Chili powder - Coarse salt and black pepper - Lemon

Crab and Corn Chowda-Mac Though I haven't lived on Cape Code since I was eight, this dish proves I'm not just a Red Sox fan but a true New England Patriot. With Chowda and and Mac 'n' Cheese in one dinner, you can get to Massachusetts in 30 minutes or less, even if you live in Michigan. Mac 'n' Cheese in one dinner, you can get to Massachusetts in 30 minutes or less, even if you live in Michigan.

4 SERVINGS.

Salt

1.

box box large shell pasta large shell pasta

1.

tablespoon tablespoon EVOO EVOO (extra-virgin olive oil), once around the pan (extra-virgin olive oil), once around the pan

3.

bacon bacon slices slices, chopped

1.

medium medium onion onion, chopped

2.

celery ribs celery ribs with greens, chopped with greens, chopped .

small red small red bell pepper bell pepper, cored, seeded, and chopped

2.