joegee66

As a young boy I read Watership Down. It changed me. At the time I was going through difficulties at home. When I checked the book out of my middle school library I was hoping for an escape from the mundane evils that can befall a child. I never dreamed that in a story about rabbits I would find laughter, tears, sunshine, danger, safety, peril, and hard-fought triumph. It gave me perspective on the world around me and helped me keep my innocence alive for a few more years.

Today it's like a beloved coat that fits so well and warms so nicely that you can't wait for winter to come back around just so you can wear it again. I shall wear your world again soon. It's been too long.

Being able to thank you for this is a privilege I never expected to have. As to a question, are there any developments in current literature that you feel bode well for the future of storycraft? Are you watching any up-and-coming authors?

SO SAY WE ALL!

Thank you. I don't get the chance to thank one of the people who made my childhood special very often. When I get the chance, I want to make certain I do it well.

You can do this at home without dropping $80 at Taco Bell. The ingredients are cheaper, taste better, and it's fantastic. If you want to recreate the flavor of Taco Bell, go to the grocery store and buy their seasoning packets/salsa.

-- 4 pounds ground beef or turkey, browned and seasoned

-- 1 package of medium sized soft corn tortillas

-- 2 cans of refried beans

-- 2 16 ounce cans of salsa

-- 3 pounds of grated cheddar or taco cheese

-- Sour cream, taco sauce, and other toppings

Spray a lasagna pan with non-stick spray. Cut the corn tortillas in half.

Put a thin layer of salsa on the bottom of the pan, and put your first layer of corn tortillas down. Spread another thin layer of salsa, and layer half of the ground meat. Cover with grated cheese.

Add another layer of corn tortillas, and spread refried beans on top. Cover with a thin layer of salsa, and another layer of grated cheese.

Add another layer of tortillas. Spread a thin layer of salsa, and layer the remaining ground meat. Cover with grated cheese.

Add the final layer of tortillas, cover liberally with salsa, and cover with remaining grated cheese.

Cover with foil and bake in a 375 oven for 45 minutes. Uncover, and bake an additional 15 minutes or until top cheese is caramelized.

Allow to rest for ten minutes, then slice and serve with a few tablespoons of your favorite taco sauce, a large spoonful of sour cream, sliced green onions, and I like black olives. A small pocket of shredded lettuce with a dollop of guacamole on top is great for the gloopy mixture of sour cream, taco sauce, and any leftover bits on the plate.

The cold versus hot contrast is amazing. The corn tortillas get very tender and soak up the juices. It's like a big Tex/Mex hug.

Servings? One if you're starving and crave ten pounds of food, two if you're both really famished and used to over-indulging, four if all of you are really hungry, and eight if you're normal people who do fancy things like serve salads and side dishes. :)

The calories? Lots. Lots and lots. Disgusting amounts. Delicious amounts. :)

I laughed out loud at the beginning of this, to paraphrase, "Don't say that, you'd be twenty something when everything went haywire ..." Thank you for the smile, and for sharing your amazing attitude. You should do an AMA, good sir. :)