Today (October 4) is National Taco Day!! I know I am having tacos for lunch. How about you? In honor of it I thought I would share some fun facts and a taco recipe and craft round-up. Then get out and get yourself a taco!!
Fun Facts
- Americans eat over 4 billion tacos a year.
- Tacos predate Europeans in Mexico. The indigenous Mexicans eat/ate them. The exact time of the first taco is debated but it was between 1,000 and 500 B.C.
- The world’s largest taco was 246 feet long and was made in 2011 in Queretaro, Mexico.
- “Taco” means to “wad” or “plug” in Spanish. It also can translate to mean “light lunch.” The word taco was not used in the US until 1905.
- Some say Taco Bell’s founder invented the u-shaped crispy taco shell. (I believe he was the first to fry the shells beforehand whereas previously the shells were fried on demand.) Other sites say the first mention of the u-shaped shell is mentioned in a 1949 cookbook by Fabiola Cabeza de Vaca Gilbert. The same source says that hard-shell tacos were invented a long time prior to Taco Bell.
- The first taco truck was in New York in 1966 and was run by two housewives.
- In 1905 tacos made their way to the United States since more Mexicans were moving to the US. The San Antonio Chili Queens opened a food stand that sold them.
- Hernan Cortes hosted the first recorded taco party in 1520.
- The first taco recipe in an English cookbook appeared in 1914.
- In 1962 tacos only cost 19 cents.
Hard Shelled Mexican Tacos By Luca Nebuloni (https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebulux/9055162205/) [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons |
Taco Truck By Paul Sableman (Flickr: Taco Truck) [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons |
Sources:
- Borracha Mexican Cantina. “Fun Facts about Tacos That You Probably Never Knew.” https://borrachavegas.com/fun-facts-tacos/
- Hopkins, John-Bryan. Foodimentary. “National Taco Day.” 04 Oct 2017. https://foodimentary.com/2017/10/04/its-national-taco-day/
- Miertschin, Allie. Burpy.com. “5 Fun Facts about Tacos.” http://www.burpy.com/blog/5-fun-facts-about-taco/#sthash.R8Y7dbSm.dpbs
- NationalTacoDay.com. “Celebrate National Taco Day.” http://www.nationaltacoday.com/
- Reign, Ashley. Women.com. “14 Fun Facts about Tacos That’ll Make You Eat with Purpose.” 05 May 2017. https://www.women.com/ashleyreign/lists/14-fun-facts-about-tacos-thatll-make-you-eat-with-purpose
Recipes
My favorite way to make chicken tacos goes back to my Weight Watchers days. I shared the recipe somewhat several years ago. I love how easy it is and how delicious it comes out. It can change depending on what you have and it is a slow cooker recipe! However I wanted to share more recipes with you, so I found some other blogs to share recipes, crafts and more with you! Enjoy!!
Meat Tacos
1) Literacy Snack Ideas Dragons on Primary Playground
2) Steak Fajita Tacos with Mexican Street Corn Salsa on The Soccer Mom Blog
3) Lentil Tacos Recipe on Family Food and Travel (Oops! I put this in the wrong place!)
4) Shredded Beef Carnitas on Kidgredients
5) Easy Pork Mole Tacos on The Soccer Mom Blog
6) Instant Pot Carne Asada Tacos on In the Kids Kitchen
Chicken, Fish & More
1) Fish Tacos with Lime Crema Sauce on Three Different Directions
2) Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Thighs on Kidgredients
3) Deliciously Easy Asian Chicken Tacos on Having Fun Saving & Cooking
4) Chorizo Scrambled Egg Breakfast Taco on Three Different Directions
5) Homemade Taco Seasoning on Moneywise Moms
6) Homemade Corn Tortillas on Discovering the World Through My Son's Eyes
Vegetable Tacos
1) Lentil Tacos Recipe on Family Food and Travel
2) Vegan Jackfruit Tacos with Mango Salsa on Veggie Society
3) Jackfruit Carnitas Taco Recipe on Veggie Society
4) Amazingly Delicious Vegan Potato Tacos on The Natural Homeschool
Taco Play & Crafts
I shared awhile ago a book with a taco plush project in it. I didn't try it myself, but it is pretty cute! There are also these fun activities, crafts and play.
1) Taco Bar Dramatic Play from The Mama Workshop
2) Cinco de Mayo Taco Activity from J.Daniel4's Mom
3) Dragons Love Tacos Playdough Recipe and Activity from J. Daniel4's Mom
4) Dragons Love Tacos Craft from The Mama Workshop