In-Laws, Cold Crock Pots, and Last-minute Creativity

Here is a simple fact of life: When you are having the in-laws over for dinner, you are going to screw something up. This fits somewhere between “life isn’t fair” and “God has a sense of humor.”

When I want to make sure that a meal will turn out well, I use a crock pot. This way I have as little opportunity as possible to screw it up. I can prepare everything, throw it in the crock pot, and walk away. A few hours later I have a delicious dinner that my mother-in-law couldn’t possibly find fault with.

That is, if I remember to turn the crock pot on before I walk away for a few hours.

Needless to say, I found myself one night with about an hour to prepare a dinner for my in-laws. Were it just my own little family I could have thrown together some sloppy Joe’s and everyone would have been happy. But sloppy Joes would only have encouraged my mother-in-law to tell stories about how she baked her own bread, grew her own vegetables and made ‘real’ dinners for her precious children every night. All while walking 20 miles in the snow, no doubt. Uphill, both ways.

So I came up with something at the spur of the moment. I’d like to say that my mother-in-law didn’t find fault, but that wouldn’t be the truth. My husband and kids loved it, however.

You know what? That was good enough. And who am I to deny my mother-in-law her simple pleasures?

Spur of the Moment Taco Salad

1 lb ground beef, cooked and crumbled
1 head of iceberg lettuce (Not usually my choice of lettuce, but you need one that stays crisp for as long as possible.)
1 good-sized bunch green onions
8 oz shredded Colby-jack cheese
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
1 cup sliced black olives
Tortilla chips or Frito’s™ corn chips
¾ cup medium chunky salsa
Thousand Island dressing

Chop the lettuce into salad-sized pieces and throw into a large bowl. Add hamburger, onions, cheese, olives, and salsa. Toss together. Add just enough Thousand Island dressing to coat everything well, but not so much that it makes the salad soggy. Add some chips to individual bowls and put some salad into each. Top each one with a few avocado cubes.

Sometimes, fear of your mother-in-law helps you create great new meal ideas!

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