As one of our work colleagues breezed thru the door this morning, looking tanned and refreshed, we just had to know her secret.  After hearing about the delectable dishes she enjoyed while on vacation in Tucson, AZ, we soon knew the truth. On Valentine's Day, Georgia and her honey dined at El Charro Cafe in downtown Tucson. Established in 1922 and billed as one of the nation's oldest Mexican restaurants, the menu is anything but old! Serving up traditional Sonoran cooking styles with innovative Tucson flair, nearly everything looks to-die-for!

A highlight was "The Famous Carne Seca Plate", a flavorful beef dish perfect for sharing. If you prepare beef this way at home, you could mix leftovers with tomato sauce to make great sloppy joes, or with burritos and enchaladas.Even though we can not all escape for fun in the sun, we can at least sample some of the cuisine. The recipe below is similar to the dish featured at El Charro. Try it tonight and get a taste of the west without leaving your kitchen! Click here for the recipe.