Descending upon us around 6pm will be 4 to 6 13-year-old silly, giggly, young ladies just dying to taste this luscious, yummy, zippy, melty food-stuff that we call the Taco Ring. Now, I must back track a bit.  This recipe is not one of my own making, but I have added my own twist to it over the years.  I’ve made this family favorite so often that I don’t refer to the recipe so it’s a little different every time.   

The original recipe comes from The Pampered Chef Busy Mom’s Cookbook (home parties are a topic for another blog)- can I tell you what the dedication says?  – “This book is for all the mothers, fathers and caregivers who make careful, loving meal preparation part of their busy lives…”  Oh, brother!  

The original Taco Ring Ingredients:   

1/2 lb of ground beef / 1 pkg of taco seasoning / 1 cup of shredded cheese / 2 containers of crescent rolls / 2 tablespoons of water  

After the meat has been browned, you are to add the cheese, taco packet and water.  Mix this up and put into the crescent rolls and pop into the oven .  

MY souped up version of the Taco Ring (I will highlight changes in blue):    

1 lb of ground beef / 1 pkg of taco seasoning / 2-3 cups of shredded cheese / 3 containers of crescent rolls / as much sour cream as you want (or ranch dressing) / as much salsa as you want      

Step 1:  Brown the meat along with the taco packet (I’m not sure why the original adds it after).  Then, you are to add all of the cheese, as much sour cream as you want, and as much salsa as you want.  Mix all ingredients until it has a nice filling consistency and put into the crescent rolls – the kicker is to arrange the triangles from the crescent roll package in to a circle so you get the “ring” effect.  (see pics). Then pop into a 375 degree oven for about 17 minutes.     

Step 2:  Make a circle / Step 3:  Fill Crescent Rolls with Meat Mixture / Step 4:  Flip the Triangles & Seal the Ring

It sounds criminally easy, doesn’t it?  I almost feel guilty about how easy it is for the kudos I receive.  But, they (my kooky family) LOVE it.         

Okay, back to the origin of the Taco Ring Party/Slumber Party.  Maddie recently packed a lunch with leftover Taco Ring and, apparently, her friends at the lunch table went “Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs” over it (“Wow, Maddie, it looks so yummy!”  “Can I taste it?”  “Can you bring me some next time?”, etc).  When Maddie told me about the Much Ado over Taco Ring, I was confused.  What do these girls eat  for dinner that they thought some ground beef & cheese wrapped in a Pillsbury crescent roll was, well,  like eating steak and lobster?  I don’t EVER recall going gaga over my BFF’s lunch box, do you?        

Thus, we are entertaining “THE entire lunch table” tonight with my amazing revamped Taco Ring recipe.  Do you want to know the best part?  Maddie is making the entire dinner this evening!  She hates getting help, especially from the Mahza (pronounces ma-zha: this is funny only if you have seen Austin Powers – Goldmember.  See dialogue below.).    

Goldmember:  Dr. Evil, we still have the ultimate insurance policy. May I present to you, the very sexual, the very toite, Austin Power’s fahza.
Dr. Evil:  His what?
Number 2:  His fahza, Dr. Evil.
Dr. Evil:  His farger? What’s a farger?
Goldmember:  His fahza. You know, the fahza.
Dr. Evil:  You know Goldmember, I don’t speak freaky-deaky Dutch. Okay, perv boy?
Goldmember:  Fahza, his dad, dad is fahza.
Dr. Evil:  Oh, his dad. His *fa-ther*         

Sorry, I digressed. 

Oh, one giggly invitee  just walked in!  OMG!  Now, there are two of them in kitchen cookin’ away (I love spying and listening – you can learn many, sometimes scary, things!).        

Here’s the final product:        

I hope it lives up to expectations!        

Bon Appetit!