Dean's World

Taco sauce is merely tacos that have been put into a blender, with olive oil.

But here's the paradox: the blended tacos have taco sauce on them!

Dean: I share your concern, although I'm more more worried about "special sauce". You still haven't taken a position on kimchi, if I'm not mistaken. What about achar and Indian mixed pickles?

I thought taco sauce was what taco's got drunk on.

BK

Or Arby's Sauce. Darn suspicious there being a chain-specific sauce.


(I grind out the cigarette on my desk and turn out the light. Through the slats in the blind comes the blinking green neon light of the hotel next door. I stand, feeling the weight of the .38 in the shoulder holster and put on my jacket. "Who is it?" I think as I cross the scarred linoleum of my office and leave. I don't bother locking the door - bad breath could knock it down.

"Is it Oven Mitt? Or maybe Ham Burglar? He should still be doing time after the Patty Beef episode, but the parole board could have soft rolls for brains and let him out early." I stop thinking. My head is good for one thing - taking a thumping. Thinking isn't part of that.

I step out of the office building and look down Vinegar Street. The black car was still parked there. I could see the glow of a cigarette inside it. I turned on my heel and went the other way.

TO BE CONTIUED...)

I’m not completely sure myself, but whatever it is, I like it. My fridge is always stocked with a bottle of taco sauce AND salsa.

My wife thinks I’m crazy, but I just don’t think a taco is a taco without some taco sauce on it. Salsa (or Picante sauce) is a weak substitute, IMO.

Don't get me wrong, salsa most definitely has its place. And I can make some damn fine salsa at home (better than anything I can buy). But I have yet to crack the secret of the taco sauce.

Taco Bell Taco Sauce Recipe #60254
You can have this taste at home!
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons instant minced onion
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4-6 servings Change size or US/metric
Change to: servings US Metric

25 minutes 5 mins prep simmier, heat to a light boil and immediately simmer. For the hot variety you can up that to 1/2 chili powder and 1/2 cayenne pepper. :)

You could make a better taco than the ones you've described by taking a corn tortilla, pouring in some reheated and mashed brussels sprounts, then leaning over it, and drooling on it, then rolling it into a tube.

Arnold Harris
Mount Horeb WI

jrogge,

Thanks for the recipe. I shall give it a try.

I personally prefer Ortega brand, but the Taco Bell recipe should be a good launching point. I’ll probably go with fresh onion and garlic, as opposed to the dried stuff.

I think the key ingredient I have been missing is the vinegar. I use lime juice in my salsas, and just assumed that would work in taco sauce too.

And now that I see the ingredients laid out in front of me, I have to admit the recipe looks a lot like spiced up ketchup. So its only logical that I like taco sauce too...

Mike, hurry up with your to be continued!

Muahaha. No seriously I wouldn't suggest trying it. Well, I haven't made it myself. Also it's for the sauce in the packets, not the seasoning for the ground beef. But, if you like that kind of thing go to town.

You can't get a real taco at Taco Bell, my friend. Come out to the West Coast, where we have authentic Mexican food, and it's dirt-cheap (unless you go to the bar-restaurants that make the food secondary to the margaritas).

Fast-food taco sauce . . . sigh. Actually, the best sauces, by far, are the ones in New Mexico. The food in Santa Fe is just to die for.