β˜•οΈ Bite-Sized Sundays: Game plan for a weeknight-easy taqueria night


Happy Sunday, Friends.

This week: A full taqueria spread, on a Tuesday, without losing your whole evening to it.

"I know it's early, but I'm already thinking about tacos." (Me, most of the time)

Taqueria night sounds like a weekend project, but it doesn't have to be. You'll have dinner on the table in about 45 minutes (an hour if you go the Chicken Tinga Tacos route), because most of this menu cooks unattended once you get it going. The trick is to start things in the right order: game plan below.

🌟 Recipe of the Week: Chili Lime Shrimp Sweet, smoky, and bright with fresh lime.

  • Difficulty level: Easy
  • Active time: 20 minutes (30 with the tostadas)
  • Perfect for: taco night, tostadas, or straight off the skillet

The Game Plan:

  1. Optional appetizer: make Pico de Gallo ahead of time, or buy it. Then chips and pico are on the table while everything else cooks.
  2. Start the Mexican Rice in the rice cooker first (15 minutes of prep, then it takes care of itself). Chop extra white onion and cilantro while you're at it, since you'll want both for the tacos.
  3. Get the Refried Black Beans going while the rice cooks (10 minutes of prep with canned beans, 25 minutes total)
  4. Set out your toppings, or pour a margarita while you wait
  5. Cook the Chili Lime Shrimp last, and warm your tortillas while it's in the pan (or go the Shrimp Tostada route if you want something sturdier to pile high)

Want chicken instead? Chicken Tinga Tacos run about an hour start to finish, so start it before anything else. Once the chicken is simmering you have 20 minutes to get the rice and beans going before you come back to reduce the sauce and warm the tortillas.

Something to Sip:

πŸ‘©β€πŸ³ Coming Wednesday: Four ways through the great August cucumber pile, before it takes over your crisper drawer.

πŸ‘‰πŸ» Love this newsletter? Forward it to a friend and tell them they can join us at this link.

All my best,


NEW Chili Lime Shrimp


or Chicken Tinga Tacos


Rice Cooker Mexican Rice


Refried Black Beans


Pico de Gallo (optional)


Blackberry Margarita


Virgin Margarita


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600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
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Pinch and Swirl

The best meals don’t come from restaurant kitchens. They come from home cooks like you who take simple ingredients and turn them into something worth sharing. My specialty is making global cooking approachable, from beloved American classics to exciting international flavors. I create recipes that make it simple to cook memorable, restaurant-quality dishes, so you can feel confident and inspired in your own kitchen.

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