Beef Tacos with Paprika – Inspired by a Community Kitchen

Easy Beef Tacos

While I wait for spring to arrive, I’ve been busy in my community. And this week, I want to share a beef taco recipe I was reminded of while volunteering at the community lunch program. 

Usually, when I arrive for my shifts in the school gym, I feel like I’ve been dropped into the middle of an action movie and have to quickly figure out the plot and the characters to catch up with the audience. 

Every day is different. New recipes and new volunteers, which include parents, students, and community neighbours. The rotating scenario creates overall mayhem. Typical of any elementary school program that is student-run, and feeds lunch to 200 kids twice a week.

When I arrived last Thursday, the kitchen was eerily calm and organized, and all the dishes were done. The meal was cooked and ready to go.

Chef Maria stood smiling in the middle of it with her black hair pulled off her round face, smiling broadly beneath her gold-rimmed glasses. A white apron pulled tight across her full frame.

Maria has a playful, warm personality and she cooks with a sanguine confidence. “What are you cooking today, Maria?” I asked. She beamed back the answer, “chicken, with my new favourite spice, paprika.”

Paprika, a spice I rarely use. When she mentioned it I was reminded of a simple beef taco recipe I occasionally cooked for my family.

Shepherd’s Pie with Squash

Yummy Shepherd's Pie with Squash

Here is a nice shepherd’s pie recipe adapted from the one in Doris’s Greenspan’s, “Everyday Dorie, The Way I Cook.” cookbook I’ve made it a few times now, and it’s been smashing every time. I especially like the squash in the filling, and of course, the mashed potatoes on top.

Meat Loaf with Italian Sausage and Bacon

Meatloaf is the ultimate comfort food. There are many variations and ways to cook this unassuming, but delicious dish. 

This recipe has ground beef and hot Italian pork sausage in it. It’s topped with a ketchup glaze, as well as bacon. My family gave this meatloaf two thumbs up and I hope yours will too.

I recommend serving it with a green salad and boiled potatoes. 

Tuscan Beef and Lentil Soup

This soup has veggies, beef and lentils which makes it a perfect soup at any time of the year.  It's seasoned with dried basil and oregano and served with grated Parmesan cheese on top. 

Easy Beef Stew With Potatoes and Peas

Beef stew filled with veggies

Here's a simple, cozy beef stew that takes no time to throw together. It’s guaranteed to fill your home with delicious smells while it simmers for hours in your oven.

Spaghetti with Tomato Meat Sauce

Easy tomato meat sauce 

Grilled Steak with Cumin Aioli

An easy dinner to serve

These steaks are marinated ahead of time, grilled, and then served with a simple cumin aioli sauce. The sauce has many common ingredients you probably have in your kitchen, and also makes a great veggie dip! Serve with mashed potatoes, a colourful salad or grilled veggies. 

Grilled Steak with Cumin Aioli

Tamale Pie Cornmeal Cheddar Topping

Tamale Pie

I really like cornmeal because I really like corn. Nothing beats a freshly picked cob of corn, boiled just enough for its sweetness to shine. This tamale pie has both corn and a cornmeal cheddar topping, which is why I love it.

Easy Beef Fajitas

Beef Fajitas

These easy and tasty beef fajitas are filled with onions, bell peppers, salsa, avocado and lettuce. The steak is first sliced into thin strips and marinated in lime juice, cumin and garlic. Let everyone fill up their tortillas with all the yummy fillings.

Beefed Up Minestrone Soup

This hearty minestrone soup has beans, pasta, veggies and ground beef. It is an old recipe of mine that kids will love. Serve it with fresh Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.  

Beefed Up Minestrone Soup

Barbecue Steak With Peppercorn Sauce

Steak With Peppercorn Sauce

Barbecue steaks are a typical Sunday night dinner in our household.This week I switched it up by serving a peppercorn sauce to go with the steaks. I grilled some veggies and added a baked potato to complete this colourful and yummy dinner!

Pot Roast

For Those who are looking for a simple tasty dish within your budget, why not try a pot roast! It's an easy, one-pot tasty meal. It's not a last minute dish because of it's lengthy cooking time - so plan ahead.

Pot Roast

In this recipe you'll braise the beef. Braising is an ideal way of cooking tough yet flavourful cuts of meat. The meat is first browned on all sides at a high heat and then simmered in a broth at a lower heat for an extended amount of time. The result is a wonderful, succulent, tender and tasty meal.

Kid Friendly Chili Macaroni

Chili Macaroni

If you want to make a fast, tasty dinner when the whole family is on a different schedule and eating at different times this kid-friendly meal is the answer. Chili Macaroni will be a family favourite.

Lasagna With Tomato Meat Sauce

Lasagna with tomato Meat Sauce

Lasagne is a staple in our household of men.

What's not to like about a dish layers with tomato meat sauce, Parmesan cheese, noodles and gooey mozzarella cheese?

I particularly like lasagna because it feeds a crowd, it's great for leftovers and freezes well.

Here's my staple lasagna recipe. If I have spinach in the house, I'll cook it up and add a layer of spinach.

It does take a bit of time to prepare, and is a bit on the expensive side....but remember....it feeds a crowd!

Chili Rub Steak With Corn Salsa Recipe

Looking for a perfect scrumptious dish to make that’s easy and tasty? Try this simple Chili Rub Steak with a fantastic corn salsa recipe. The corn salad is also great with tortilla chips. 

Cabbage

It's time to cozy-up with Cabbage. Cabbage is a versatile vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked.  Cabbage Rolls are typically cabbage leaves stuffed with beef or pork, rice and raisin.  Here's a simpler version that's easy to make ahead of time. It's a family favourite. 

Cabbage Roll Casserole

Serve with boiled new potatoes and a green salad

2 teaspoons canola oil
2 small onions, chopped
1 clove garlic minced
1 pound ground beef
1 – 28 fl oz can chopped tomatoes with juices
1 - 5.5 fl oz can tomato paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 bay leaf
1 cup cooked rice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
4 cups shredded cabbage


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large pot, heat 2 teaspoons of oil over medium high heat.  Sauté onions and garlic until soft, about 3-4 minutes.  Turn up heat to high; add ground beef and sauté until no longer pink about 3-4 minutes.  Add tomatoes and their juices, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, cooked rice and brown sugar.  Simmer on stove for 5-10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  In a 9 x 13 x 2 inch dish spread half the cabbage.  Spread half the meat mixture on top.  Then add remaining cabbage and top with remaining meat.  Cover with tin foil and bake in oven for 50 minutes.  Can be made a day ahead.  Serves 6.

Cabbage Roll Casserole

Easy Moussaka Recipe

Moussaka with eggplant

An easy dish to make that will freeze well. Grill extra eggplant and add to your sandwich for lunch the next day. Serve with a big green salad.

Beef Taco

Beef Taco's 

A simple easy meal to serve on those crazy days you have little time to cook.  Make up extra meat filling and freeze the extra, so you can prepare a quick dinner on those nights you don't feel like cooking.

Chili For Dinner Tonight?

What's for dinner? Why not try a beef Chili. This recipe is versatile, add vegetables such as corn, carrots, beans...whatever the kids will eat!