Weeknight Taco Salad and Kraft and Sam’s Club Dinner Planner

I am now ready to reveal my big news. I was one of five bloggers selected by Kraft Foods to work on the Kraft Foods and Sam’s Club Two Week Dinner Planner program. This is pretty cool stuff. Kraft has worked with Sam’s Club to put together two weeks’ worth of meals along with the shopping list and recipes including this weeknight taco salad.

I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program which includes my trip to Sam’s Club, my interactions/experience with the two week dinner planner and my posts about my experience. I have also been compensated for the food purchased for the two week dinner planner. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Kraft is introducing a personalized cookbook

In addition to the planner, Kraft is introducing a personalized cookbook. You can build your own personalized cookbook with your favorite recipes or choose from a list of Kraft recipes. Sam’s Club members are also eligible for a free cookbook offer.

So yesterday was my trip to buy all the items on the shopping list. With this planner, you are suppose to be able to get 2 weeks’ worth of dinners for less than $250. I went to my local Sam’s Club with shopping list in hand. The list is grouped together the way the store floor plan is laid out. For the most part, that’s the way my store was. There were a few things that were placed differently at my store, like the saltine crackers were near the bread and pastries and not in the dry goods and baking area. I was able to get everything there that was on the shopping list with the exception of 2 items.

Shopping for my meal plan at Sam’s Club

My store did not have Oscar Meyer bacon. So I just got a different brand. Then there was no Velveeta there. I ask an employee where the Velveeta was and they said they only carry it at Christmas time, it’s a seasonal item. So, I was able to find everything on the list with the exception of the Velveeta cheese. I did not include the vegetable oil, garlic powder, garlic salt, or ground cumin. So at my local Sam’s Club the cost before tax with the exclusion of the Velveeta, vegetable oil, garlic salt, and ground cumin came to $195.80.

Now obviously, with shopping at Sam’s on some of the items, I had way more food than what I would use for the two weeks. Some of these items would be the baking mix, eggs, tuna, butter, saltines etc. However, these items help stock up my pantry and can be used to make breakfast or lunch during those two weeks. All around it was a good experience and I am now set to have my two weeks’ worth of meals.

The meal plan only includes the recipes for your main dish and a bonus beverage recipe.

You will have extra frozen and fresh veggies that could be used for a side dish. The first recipe from the planner I am going to share with you is the Weeknight Taco Salad. The thing fun about this salad is that you make your own crispy tortilla bowl to put it in. The recipe is also for 4 servings. However, I used the same amount of meat with some more lettuce, cheese, and dressing to make 5 servings for my family.

My 5 year old didn’t want a tortilla bowl. We also ended up adding some salsa to the salad too. Everyone ate them up, with the exception of my 5 year old. She didn’t like the lettuce. She would have been happier to just have the meat with all the toppings in a bowl. It was a quick and easy dinner. We just had the salad for our meal and everyone was satisfied. Also, according to the Kraft/Sam’s two week planner the cost per serving was $1.38.

Then here is a link to find the closest Sam’s Club to you. https://www2.samsclub.com/clublocator/?est=19
I will share my experience with all the recipes through the month of July. Also, over the 4th of July weekend, I’ll have a great giveaway from Kraft/Sam’s.

Weeknight Taco Salad and Kraft and Sam’s Club Dinner Planner

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Ingredients

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• 4 flour tortillas (8-inch)
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 pkt. (1¼ oz.) taco seasoning mix
• 4 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• ¼ cup ranch dressing

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Instructions

1. HEAT oven to 425°F.
2. CRUMPLE 4 large sheets of foil to make 4 (3-inch) balls; place on baking sheet. Place 1 tortilla over each ball; spray with cooking spray. Bake 6 to 8 min. or until tortillas are golden brown. (Tortillas will drape over balls as they bake.)
3. MEANWHILE, cook meat with taco seasoning mix as directed on package.
4. FILL shells with lettuce, meat mixture, cheese and tomatoes just before serving. Drizzle with dressing. Serves 4.

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This is the original photo from this post. The above photo was updated in May 2015.