• Place watermelon and cucumber in a large bowl; set aside. In a blender, combine remaining ingredients, blending until smooth. Pour dressing over watermelon and cucumber. Toss gently until evenly coated. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

• Cook rice according to package directions.
• Thinly slice beef and place in a medium bowl.
• In a small bowl whisk together the marinade ingredients and pour over beef. Allow to marinate 10 minutes.
• Heat a grill pan or large saute pan over medium-high heat.
• Add oil and cook meat slices to desired doneness.
• To assemble beef lettuce wraps, place 2 heaping tablespoons rice in middle of one lettuce leaf. Add a few meat slices and top with Sriracha sauce if desired.

MAKE THE HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING

• Add the chili powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin and black pepper to a small bowl, stir to combine.

BROWN THE CHICKEN

• Heat the oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the chicken. Cook for about 3 minutes per side.
• Remove the chicken from the skillet and set on a plate or pan. Don’t worry that it’s not cooked all the way through; it will finish cooking in the sauce.

MAKE THE TACO SAUCE

• Do not wash the skillet.
• Set the skillet back over medium heat. Add the tomato sauce, water and prepared seasoning mix, stir well to combine.
• When the sauce comes to a simmer return the chicken to the skillet. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes.
• Keep the sauce at a simmer. Turn the chicken about half way through the cooking time, and stir occasionally.
• Make sure the chicken is at least 165°F at the thickest part.
• Remove the chicken from the skillet and continue cooking the sauce, covered on low heat. It should be barely at a simmer.

SHRED THE CHICKEN

• Place the chicken on a cutting board or pan and shred using two forks.
• Return the chicken to the skillet and cook a few minutes until warmed through and most of the sauce is absorbed. Stir occasionally.
• Serve the shredded chicken with tortillas or hard taco shells and your favorite taco fixings.

• Cook the noodles according to the package directions.
• Heat a large skillet and spray with oil; saute half of the onions over medium heat until golden, stirring 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside to put in the turkey mix.
• In a large bowl, combine the sautéed onions with the ground turkey, bread crumbs, egg, 4 tbsp of the parsley, milk, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and black pepper. Set aside in the refrigerator to chill for 5-10 mins. Gently shape into 30-40 meatballs (depends on the size of your meatballs).
• In a blender combine the water, sour cream, flour, tomato paste, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce and paprika, blend until smooth.
• Heat the skillet, add the oil, and brown half of the meatballs (in two batches) about 2 minutes until no longer sticks, turn and brown an additional 2 minutes, set aside on a dish and repeat with remaining meatballs.
• In a large cooking pot saute the other half of the onions and fresh thyme for 2-3 minutes, add the mushrooms and saute for a few more minutes. Add the meatballs, pour the sauce over the meatballs, add thyme.
• Bring to a boil then cook covered on low 20 to 25 minutes, stir often. When done, add the chopped parsley and serve over your favorite noodles.

Comments

• When browning the meatballs, do them in batches and don’t turn them until the bottoms brown and will no longer stick.