Taco Meat Hoagie Sandwich

EASY RECIPE

I did a little research to come up with this week’s easy Taco Meat Hoagie sandwich.  My easy recipe is one part research about the Red Pepper in Grand Forks, ND, one part my recollections of their wonderful grinder, and one part me getting wild with the recipe.  This sandwich is super easy and awesome for a fun game night meal.

Recipe makes 4 hoagies.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground round

4 hoagie buns

white cheese slices (white cheddar or Monterrey Jack)

shredded iceberg lettuce

1 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp cumin powder

canned diced green chiles too taste

Ken’s Steak House Peppercorn Ranch Dressing (or ranch dressing with pepper added)

Sriracha Chili sauce (too taste)

Preparation:

While browning the ground round in a fry pan add the chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir and brown.  When done spoon out excess grease.

Shred iceberg lettuce and slice open (but not apart) the hoagie buns.

Spoon the seasoned ground round onto the hoagie bun, add ranch dressing, minced chilies, and Sriracha Chili sauce.

Add cheese and place hoagie in micro wave or under broiler to melt the cheese. Once done add the lettuce and enjoy.

And there you go, you just made four out of this world hoagies for your family or friends to enjoy.

AND STUFF

While attending law school in Grand Forks, ND in the 70’s, my buddy Rick and I would occasionally order a late night taco grinder from the Red Pepper.  The sandwich was awesome!  It had mounds of taco beef on it, a secret sauce, and lots of melted white cheese.  Really it was crazy good.

The other day for some unknown reason the grinder popped into my head.  I googled it and looks like the Red Pepper is still operating in Grand Forks.  And better yet, some devotees to the grinder had posted their theory on how to make it.

The easy recipe above is pretty close to the real deal and in any event is awesome.  But if I ever find myself at UND for a homecoming I will get a taco grinder or two to check my ingredients against the Red Pepper taco grinder.

And then there was the great college bar Frenchy’s.  You have to understand that in the winter in Grand Forks the only option for a social life is inside walls which protect you from wind driven waaay below zero weather.  And if you were super lucky occasionally you would find yourself stranded at Frenchy’s during a blizzard.  Drink beer, play pool, hang with buddies and girls all night long while the blizzard passed through town.  I repeat, stuck in a college bar with beer, girls, pool, and music, waiting for the blizzard to pass.  Just wouldn’t be safe to drive home in a blizzard.  So only safe option was to party on.  Ah the good life.

I bet you could share a good college story or two while enjoying my easy recipe taco grinder.

Good Eating and Table Talk,

Roger Scouton

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