Skinny Taste and the Reef Revolution

If you've come over to my place for a meal in the last couple of years, let's say 3 just to make it seem more impressive, there's a couple dishes that I like to cook for folks. The most prominent one would be Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats. I think it might be a tie between Karen and my sister Sara for #1 fan of them. Funny enough today I was looking at my Facebook Memories- which if you're not on FB (as the cool kids call it) contains previous posts made on this day from years past- and saw this post from 2013:

Facebook Memories don't lie

Apparently 3 years ago today was my first attempt at making this recipe. Shortly after Karen comes down to the Reef Man Cave were I work and asks "what are we doing for dinner?" Which if you know me I'm a go with the flow type and asked what she was thinking. Karen goes "You should make the taco boats!" Seems like FB Memories + Karen + Taco Tuesday was the planets aligning or whatever the heck is the metaphor is to say Taco Boats were destined to be made today.

The original recipe is from Skinny Taste:  Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boats. So three years ago when I decided to lose weight/become healthier/cook more at home, skinnytaste.com was instrumental in finding healthier version of food I like to eat. I think one of the biggest changes to diet was picking ground turkey or chicken over red meat. Don't worry I still love me some steak tacos so that will never be abandoned.

Having made these taco boats for a while I've got some got adaptations and pretty much can cook it without instruction. I say pretty much mostly cause I always forget what temperature the oven should be set at. I legit always want to put things at 375 degrees- which I would say a huge majority of the time that seems accurate. But alas this is set to 400 degrees. To go along with the oven temp, I always forget to preheat the oven about 70% of the time.

One of the adaptations for the recipe I like to add is Sazon seasoning. I would say that you can find Goya's Sazon seasoning packs anywhere but apparently that's not necessarily true. I hit up Jewel and Meijer with no luck. Not really sure why they stop carrying it there. Kind of disappointing to be honest. Jewel has some other generic brand but I'm kind of a snob when it comes to Sazon in general. I can tell you two places that definitely carry it- Aldi and Walmart.  Now I know some folks might get all uppity and think those places aren't good but I disagree.

Goya's Sazon

Not sure where Aldi got it's previous bad wrap from. Maybe it's because folks don't like having to use a quarter to rent a shopping car? Or is it that they only take debit or cash? On a funny related to Walmart note, they do have all those registers and never have more than two open.  Still even with that Aldi is actually excellent for produce and other items. One of which would be the aforementioned Goya Sazon seasoning. 

We picked up a green pepper from there as well as something new in my book Sriracha Salsa. I had to pick the salsa even though I didn't need it because two things I like 1) NEW and 2) Sriracha. On a scientific/FYI note in case you aren't privy to this knowledge- you can decipher from male and female peppers. Three bumps = Male and four bumps = Female.  Male peppers have less seeds and good for cooking, Female peppers have more seeds but is sweeter and better for salads/eating raw. #TheMoreYouKnow

A male pepper from Aldi's

Sriracha Salsa? YES PLEASE

Haven't tried the Sriracha Salsa as I had an open salsa already which was also new from a previous trip. Walmart has their own fresh made/deli section. Ended up trying out their Peach Mango salsa. Not too shabby. Funny enough Aldi has an excellent Mango Peach salsa- which they did not have while we were there or that would have been bought. The mango peach salsa is another alteration I put on top of the zucchini prior to adding the meat mixture. Gives it a little extra sweet flavor (depending on type you use) to balance out the savory.

Walmart's Fresh Market Peach Mango Salsa

Got the knife as a X-mas gift from my sister-in-law. Absolutely love knives

Prepping Zucchini- easier to use a melon scooper if you have one

Cooking up some turkey and other items

Ran out of 9x13 bakeware so used two smaller ones

Finished delicious product: Taco Stuffed Zucchini Boat

Much like all the cooking shows you have ever watched, this came out fantastic. I suppose you can't really have a cooking show and come out with horrible food. Still might be funny to see someone go "it's alright." Karen has her own alteration with it as she puts sour cream on top of it. I mean she tends to put sour cream on most savory dishes now that I think about it. So much so that I typically by the giant container of sour cream. Which she then acts offended like she doesn't use that much. Really Karen? Really? Anyway Karen and Lily loved it so my work here is done. 

#FoodieCooking & #HappyTacoTuesday,

Reef