Food for Thought : March is National Frozen Food Month

      National frozen food day has been celebrated each year on March 6th , since 1984 . The process of frozen foods  was first developed  by Clarence  Birdeye in 1930 , and  they subsequently  became common in grocery stores . Overall , the frozen food  market is currently a 14 billion dollar industry in the United States . The  frozen food market  has changed tremendously , especially over the past decade . Taste and  the options  are better  for you . Here are a few  tips to help you enjoy  frozen foods  and keep your healthy lifestyle .

      Look  closely  at serving sizes . Many frozen  dinners  may seem like a  single serving  ; however  the nutrition facts  label shows it to be  multiple servings . This can make  significant  differences  in calories ., fat , sodium and other nutrients .

      Frozen dinners  that are full course meals  are typically  higher in sodium  and other nutrients. Look for meals  that are labeled "low sodium" . Be mindful of trans-fats. 

     When choosing frozen side items , look for vegetables  without added  sodium or  sauces .

    Read  the ingredient list . The fewer  ingredients , the better .

                                                      Taco Pie  with a Twist

Have you ever had a craving for tacos but you wanted to serve it slightly different instead of the same old way. This recipe Taco Pie will give you the same taco flavor, without having to fill taco shells. It is simple, easy, and so delicious.

1 pound lean ground beef
1 (16-ounce) can refried beans
1 cup salsa
2 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 jalapenos, sliced or chopped
1 c. (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup sour cream

1 .  In a large cast iron skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat, until it is browned. Drain off excess fat.
2 .  Stir in refried beans and salsa, and bring the mixture o a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove skillet from heat. Smooth the ground beef mixture with the back of a spoon. Alternatively, if you want to put it in a different serving dish you can do that too.
3 .  Arrange lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream over the top. You can arrange it in circles, one inside the next, or layer it or just toss the ingredients over the top.

4 .  You can serve this with broken taco shells, or tortilla chips, or just start eating it as is. We often serve Taco pie in individual dishes. Spoon the ground beef on everyone's place and let them top with the ingredients they like best.

A  proud grand-poppa               G .