Crazy Foods

Spaghetti in a taco? Yes, it's flinch inducing to adults but it's the hottest dish out there amongst tweens. Thanks to the show "iCarly" twelve year olds are putting pasta and sauce between a Mexican classic. It;s a popular dish on the show and kids are literally gobbling it up.

The dish made the front page of today's Dining Section of the New York Times. it was written by Helene Stapinski who may or may not have a tween herself. It's a simple enough dish. Warm up hard taco shells, boil spaghetti and the put the tow together. Top with tomato sauce , spices and the typical taco toppings such as sour cream, shredded lettuce chopped tomatoes and cheese. Kids even love making it which is a good step towards cooking.

Spaghetti and tacos is not a new combination. There is a generation out there that adores refried spaghetti on Wonder bread. A friend of mine still loves this even though he's in his sixties. I guess it was the number one food of his childhood (and like cats we have a lifelong love of certain tastes call it the foods of our kitten hood.) There's also spaghetti soup which is like a runnier version of pasta and sauce. Spaghetti goes well with everything, even Mexican.

Will I ever try this? No I love Mexican food.I love Italian food. I do not , however,like the two combined.

On The Border A Mexican Treat

One of my favorite chain restaurants is On The Border, a salute to south of the border kitsch.Yes, there are sombreros and the ubiquitous adobe tiles. There's piped in mariachi music and the usual cadre of cheery waitstaff. However unlike some chains, the food is phenomenal with a wide variety of flavors and dishes for everyone and every taste.

The one thing I like about On The Border is their build a burrito. This is kind of like the build a bear concept except you had yummy ingredients instead of fluffy stuffing. The healthiest choice is the one with the sauteed veggies and guacamole. it also helps if you choose the grilled way of cooking it too. Of course, you can get the chicken and beef, and load it up with sour cream and stuff. Mostly everything is relatively healthy at On The Border. There are some good fajitas that come with a large plate of meat and grilled veggies. there are also fish tacos for those who want to eat an even healthier meal. Every dish has a side of rice and beans which are a lot better for you than fries and onion rings. On The Border also has a quick and easy take out system.

I have yet to try On The Border's desserts. They all look decadent with a Mexican twist especially the Kahlua ice cream cake or the dulce de leche cheesecake. Another item I have yet to try is their drinks, sticking with their mugs of soda or strawberry lemonade.

If you're looking for an affordable and fun chain restaurant, look no further than On The Border. yes, it's full of hokey Mexican kitsch but it's also full of good dishes at good prices.