The Last Ember Days of Spring

Oh what a beautiful Saturday! This is Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend. I don’t know about your part of the world, but here there are market places and street fairs galore. Plus it’s the last Ember Days of Spring.

March is such a wonderful month. There is the Celtic Fair in Angles Camp, filled with all sorts of vendors selling their Celtic Crafts and baked goods. And there’s the music of the fair – with everything from traditional Celtic lullabies to Celtic Rock and Roll. It’s such a great time for all.

Usually a week later (that would be this weekend), there’s the Dandelion Street Fair in Jackson. The entire length of Main Street is closed to traffic. You can find Cottage Kitchens selling Goat Cheeses and Irish Cakes along with the usual arts and crafts. Hubby and I love the drive up into the Gold Country in the spring. Everything is such an Emerald Green this time of year.

It’s days such as this that are perfect for a nice salad at the end of an adventure. Put my feet up and simple enjoy the blessings of my family, our life and the world around us.

Spicy Ranch Taco Salad
1-1/2 cups Ranch Dressing
1/2 tablespoon Hot Sauce or to taste
1 can Red Kidney Beans
4 tablespoons Taco Seasoning, divided
1 lb Ground Beef
2 teaspoons New Mexican Red Chili Powder
1 head Romaine Lettuce
2 Roma Tomatoes
2 Green Onions
1/2 cup Nacho Jalapeño Peppers
2 cups Corn Chips
1 Avocado
1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican Cheese Blend

In a small bowl whisk Ranch Dressing with Hot Sauce. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Rinse and drain Kidney Beans. Sprinkle beans with about a tablespoon of Taco Seasoning to give more flavor. Toss and set aside.

In a cast iron skillet over medium heat brown ground beef. Season with Red Chili Powder, the remaing 3 tablespoons of Taco Seasoning, and pinch of salt. Drain meat well once browned and seasoned.

While the meat cooks, tear lettuce into bite-size pieces. Seed and dice the tomatoes, trim and slice the green onions. Finely dice the Jalapeño Peppers. Set aside.

In a large oval platter spread out the lettuce. Scatter tomatoes, kidney beans and Jalapeño Peppers over the lettuce.

Spoon the taco meat over the salad. Sprinkle meat with sliced green onions. Set salad aside.

Place Fritos in a large resealable bag. Break chips into pieces, scatter over the top of the salad.

Peel, seed and slice the avocado into bite-size chunks. Sprinkle avocado with a little lime juice and place in a small bowl. Fill another bowl with shredded cheese to pass around the table along with the Spicy Ranch Dressing.

Serve salad at room temperature. Drizzle on the dressing, add the avocado and shredded cheese as desired and enjoy.

And for those wondering, yes this salad pairs wonderfully with a Strawberry Lime Margarita on the rocks.

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Moses spoke to the people, saying “This day the LORD, your God, commands you to observe these statutes and decrees. Be careful, then, to observe them with all your heart and with all your soul”.