Good Eats: Taco Pasta Toss

Looking back on my last few posts, I realize that I've only written about food! We have been busy with activities other than eating over the last few weeks, but I suppose I haven't been motivated to write much lately!

Today's Good Eats recipe comes from the March issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. My mom presented me with a subscription to the magazine for Christmas, and I have been enjoying the recipes and articles in the magazines since they began appearing in my mailbox in January. This Taco Pasta Toss is featured as one of the 30 minute meals in this month's issue. It combines two of my favorite foods - pasta and tacos! It was easy to make and delicious to eat! It yielded enough for lots of leftovers, too! Enjoy!

Recipe for: Taco Pasta Toss
From: Everyday with Rachael Ray (March 2010)

Ingredients:
Salt and pepper
1 pound penne rigate or whole grain penne rigate pasta
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 pound ground beef sirloin
1 large onion, chopped
1 large jalapeno chile, halved, seeded if desired and thinly sliced crosswise
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder (about 2 palmfuls)
1 tablespoon ground coriander (about a palmful)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin (about 1/2 palmful)
1/4 cup tomato paste
One 12-ounce bottle beer or 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 cups shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or any Mexican semisoft cheese
2 small plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/4 head iceberg lettuce or 1/2 small heart romaine lettuce, chopped

Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and return to pot.
2. While the pasta i working, in a large skillet, heat the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add three-quarters of the onion, the jalapeno, garlic, chili powder, coriander, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onion is softened, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute, then stir in the beer.
3. Add the sauce to the pasta and toss. Spoon into a serving dish, top with the cheese and tent with foil to melt the cheese, about 1 minute. Top with the remaining onion, the tomatoes, and lettuce - just like tacos!