The Taco Bowl Reconsidered

Taco night has always been a family favorite but every once in a while, the menu needs to be shaken up a bit which is how I came to add Taco Bowl night to mealtime. When I first decided to try taco bowls, the pre-made shells were on my shopping list but after reading labels and not caring for some of the ingredients, I decided to try to make my own. Organic corn tortillas usually contain corn, water, and a trace of lime but finding 9-10 inch organic corn tortillas (most grocery stores carry the 6-7 inch size) is very difficult unless there is a Latin market close by. So, I started thinking about alternatives which is how I considered Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas.

Made from freshly sprouted organically grown grains, Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas are naturally full of flavor and bursting with nutrients.Rich in protein (6 grams per tortilla), vitamins and minerals (thiamin, Niacin, Folic Acid, Phosphorus, Zinc, Iron, B6, Magnesium, Copper and more), and fiber (5 grams per tortilla), the tortillas have no added fat.

The ingredients include organic sprouted wheat, filtered water, organic sesame seeds, organic sprouted soybeans, organic sprouted barley, organic sprouted millet, organic sprouted lentils, organic sprouted spelt, and sea salt.

The tortillas are a complete protein containing all 9 essential amino acids and have no sugar and also no naturally occurring sugar. Each 9 inch tortilla weights 2 ounces and has 150 calories, 3.5 grams of fat (naturally occurring).

Hearty and delicious, Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas are perfect to make taco bowls. Simply place a defrosted tortilla (as these tortillas are often in the frozen food natural food section in grocery stores) into the microwave oven for 10-12 seconds and immediately place the tortilla into the non-stock metal pan (no need to spray the pan as the tortilla won’t stick). The microwave process makes the tortilla pliable and easy to take on the shape of the fluted pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes until lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly.

Prepare bowls of fillings: chopped lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, orange and red peppers, corn, avocado, chopped cucumber, refried beans, black and/or pinto beans, salsa, grated sharp cheddar, taco meat, grilled chicken or pork, sour cream, salsa, and cilantro and place in the middle of the table allowing everyone to customize their own taco bowl. Everyone – carnivore man, vegetarian me, and vegan daughter – is happy with this dinner because no one feels their dietary preferences are being overlooked.

Non-stick taco bowls are very inexpensive and come in an assortment of sizes. I have two sizes and tend to use the Norpro Nonstick Mini (despite their name, these pans are not mini at all) Tortilla Bowl Makers which are 7-inch pans that require a 9-10 inch tortilla although a set of 8.5 inch bowls called Norpro Nonstick Tortilla Bowl Makers that require a 12 inch tortilla are also available. To purchase the pans on-line go to www.amazon.com where the bowls are priced at $6-$7 for a set of two (with free shipping for Prime members).Consider buying two sets of pans to save on baking time, especially if serving a large group.

The Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Tortillas are gaining in popularity and are available at Whole Foods (in the freezer section) and grocery stores across the country. To do a zip code search and find a store close by, go the company (Food For Life) website and click on the “Find A Store” link:  www.foodforlife.com.