Tacos, Tackles, and Tequila

Can it be Taco Tuesday everyday?  I mean, who doesn't love tacos?

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Taco Cabana.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.  

With a family of four, a full time job, and a long commute sometimes mom has to get a little help.  The one request that they all have is TACOS.

Taco Cabana is introducing the new Flamed-Grilled Chicken tacos.  Three different ones to choose from:

-Grilled Peppers & Onions with Salsa Roja (sautéed red and green peppers, blend of grilled onions, diced tomatoes, Salsa Roja and a squeeze of fresh lime juice)
-Roasted Poblanos, Ranchero & Cheese (roasted Poblano chiles, melted Cheddar and Monterrey Jack cheeses and slow-simmered Ranchero Sauce)
-Bacon & Jalapeño with Salsa Ranch (melted Cheddar and Jack cheeses, roasted jalapeño chiles, Salsa Ranch and thick-cut, double-smoked Bacon)

Mix and match any three for $5.99 but hurry they are available for a Limited Time Only.

Tackling the kids for dinner does not have to be hard with the new Taco Cabana Kids’ Meal which includes breaded 100% white meat, antibiotic-never chicken bites, choice of rice & beans or chips & queso, choice of Mott’s® Apple Juice or kids’ drink, 2 flour tortillas and a chocolate chip cookie for $4.99.  

Unwind with the new house-made Premium Margaritas that are made with 100% Blue Agave Lunazul Tequila.  The Premium Margaritas are a permanent item on Taco Cabana’s menu.  

Don't forget Happy Hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day.   

Thirsty Thursday-Don Julio Farm to Shaker Dinner

When you hear the word tequila, what do you think about?  shots, shots, shots, shots....right? 

Thanks to Don Julio for inviting my husband and I for dinner.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

The word Don kinda translates to the word Sir.  But it is a title in Hispanic culture that is earned not just given.  Don Julio Gonzalez's passion is what created this tequila.  It has now become the high end, best of the best, to locals and around the world. 

We were invited to come and experience Don Julio's tequila.  Yes, I said experience.  Not a dance club passing out shots but a behind the scenes learning experience about what makes Don Julio tequila great!

From left to right-

Blanco-

Color:           Clear
Nose:            Crisp agave aromas blended with hints of citrus notes - lemon, lime and grapefruit
Taste:            Light, sweet, agave flavor
Finish:          Clean and dry with a touch of black pepper and grassy undertones
Best Served: Mixed drink

Reposado-

Color:           Straw-like color
Nose:            An inviting aroma of mellow lemon citrus notes and spice layers with touches of ripe stone fruit
Taste:            Incredibly soft and elegant hints of dark chocolate, vanilla and light cinnamon
Finish:          Silky, warm finish with an essence of dried fruit, nuts and a touch of caramel apple
Best Served: Neat

Añejo-

Color:            Light amber
Nose:             A fresh blend of lime, grapefruit and mandarin citrus aromas with a rich touch of caramel
Taste:            Full-bodied and complex with expressions of cooked agave, wild honey and oak-infused butterscotch
Finish:          Bright and lightly spiced finish with the essence of wild honey
Best Served: On the rocks

70-

Color:	Clear
Nose:	Crisp with traditional hints of Añejo
Taste:	Smooth in character with highlights of vanilla, honey and toasted oak
Finish:	Lingering hints of oak followed by a clean, warm finish
Best Served:	On the rocks

After we learned a little more about the different types of Don Julio tequilas, dinner was served.  Each entrée was paired up with a drink for the tasting.

We got a behind the scenes with the Chef Jean-Philippe Gaston before dinner even started.  We learned about the local ingredients and flavor that were to be used for our dinner.

Tequila Don Julio Agua Chile paired with Abejita

 Tequila Don Julio Asado de Churrasco y Chimichurri paired with Añejo Martinez

Brigadeiros y Platanos Calados paired with Tequila Don Julio 1942

The food was very delicious.  The drinks were good too.  The pairings, I would not have ever tried.  When I thought of tequila, I thought of shots not tasty cocktails like I was served.  Great creations by Mixologist Omar Villacencio.  Before dinner, Omar demonstrated how to create El Macho, El Diablo, and La Ultima Palabra (The Last Word).

My favorite drink of the night was the Abejita.  It was sweet and tasty.  I could drink this all night.  Even my husband liked it.  His favorite drink of the night was El Macho.  It was a beautiful creation. 

It was a night of delicious food, tasty drinks, and a great time along with good company.  Salud!

Denny's Skillet Platter Review

So what's for breakfast?  Don't feel like cooking....on the weekends mommy takes a break.  We load up the car and we go grab some breakfast.  One of the spots we always head to is Denny's. 

Denny's has a new menu - Complete Skillet Meals.  They are only $8.99.

The “Complete Skillet Meals” menu features affordable three-course meals.  Guests can enjoy more than 100 possible meal combinations to satisfy any taste and budget. With so many delicious options, diners will have trouble deciding how to start - a cup of hearty soup, a Denny’s garden or Caesar salad or seasonal fruit.  Next, choose from one of six delicious dishes including the Prime Rib Loaded Potato Skillet, Country-Fried Steak Skillet,Chicken Loaded Potato Skillet, Pot Roast Skillet, Bacon Chipotle Chicken Skillet and the Hash Skillet. Complete the meal with a tempting dessert - Mini Apple Crisp, Mini Banana Split, Pecan Pie or Denny’s famous Pancake Puppies® Sundae.  The limited time menu also features three breakfast options including the Banana Caramel French Toast Skillet, Western Skillet and the Fit Fare® Veggie Skillet.

My thoughts-These are the 2 menu items we picked.  The Western Skillet was my choice.  It comes with eggs, hashbrowns, peppers..mmmm.  The other skillet we ordered was the Banana Caramel French toast.  My kids love French Toast.  I asked for extra bananas for the baby.  I like that the food stays warm until you are ready to eat it.  I normally feed the baby first and then afterwards I can finally eat.  When I got ready to eat, my food was still warm.  It was so delicious.  The baby loved the bite size ham on my Western Skillet.  It was all very yummy.  Can't wait to go back and try the other skillets.

***Disclosure-GC provided to sample menu.  These are my honest opinions based on my own experience at my local Denny's.