Foodie Frugal Friday #2

Welcome to Foodie Frugal Friday #2!  Fridays are  my "day off" from my blog. Every Friday I will feature some recipes from across the web and blog-land.

Grab your sunscreen, your sunglasses and throwback the convertible because we are gonna head for the border with some recipes guaranteed to warm things up! 'Cause we don't need no stinkin' winter.. It's a Cinco de Mayo Friday in February!

I can't believe I AM actually showing this picture!! My 30th bday which was ummmm...a LONG time ago--(oh man 15 yrs ago). My point being I have always loved hispanic inspired food.  Ole! (And for pun purposes- Olay!--because at the time  I was employed  by Procter and Gamble--who makes Oil of Olay)

All I could think of was "How MANY other people wore this hat?!" That and I was plotting my evil revenge on my friends and co-workers for telling the restaurant it was my birthday --Don Pablo's, Colerain Ave, 1997 

Whether you vegetarian or not here is a meatless option with vegetarian tacos. Don't those look muy delicioso? (Haha, sorry that's the extent of my Spanish!) If you are are really pressed for time you can substitute a frozen bag of the southwest vegetable blend mix (Bird's Eye brand is one that I use)

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Soft-Vegetable-Tacos

Southwest chicken wraps are tasty and good for you by using lettuce instead of tortillas (Bad Carbs!) After all,  swimsuit season is only 4 short months away. YIKES!!

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/southwest-chicken-wraps

Caldo de Res is Mexican Beef Soup. A hearty and satisfying soup that is NOT crazy calorie laden.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/caldo-de-res-mexican-beef-soup/

Southwest Pork Stir Fry, quick, easy and lots of protein. Yum!

http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/southwest-pork-and-black-bean-stir-fry/1107b62b-3006-47ff-8aa3-29aad2f7594c/

And because you just gotta have a little sweet. Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ingrid-hoffmann/arroz-con-leche-recipe/index.html

And to wrap it up--an adult libation that's both hot and cold! A spicy grapefruit margarita!

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/07/spicy-grapefruit-margarita

Hopefully these spicy, packed-with-flavor dishes will bring some much needed warmth to your weekend.

What is great about all these dishes is the bulk of it can be prepared ahead, packaged and frozen. (Margarita ice cubes?) (Probably NOT the rice pudding) You can have a hot, tasty meal in a matter of minutes.

Enjoy and Happy Friday!!