Feeding the kids: Taco night!

In my ongoing quest to find tasty kid-friendly meals for you that are healthy and appropriate for the whole family, this week I was inspired by the children's book "Dragons Love Tacos," by Adam Rubin, Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri (Dial Books for Young Readers; $16.99). Dragons love tacos, from chicken and beef to big and small ones. But if a dragon accidentally eats spicy salsa, watch out, you're in red-hot trouble.

While the book didn't include a recipe, I was motivated to have a taco night. It's a great recipe to make along with your kids after reading "Dragons Love Tacos." Don't get discouraged by all the ingredients, you can do a lot of the prep work ahead of time and it's relatively easy to make.

2. In a small bowl, stir together 1 chopped white onion, cilantro, and the juice of 1 lime. Set aside to use as a relish for the tacos.

3. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Toast chile pods in the skillet for a few minutes, then remove to a bowl of water to soak for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

4. Place the tomatoes, 1 onion, jalapeños, and 4 cloves of garlic onto a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 20 minutes, until toasted but not burned. Place the roasted vegetables, and soaked chili pods into a blender or food processor, along with salt and pepper. Puree until smooth.

5. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cut the marinated flank steak into cubes or strips. Cook, stirring constantly, until the meat is cooked through and most of the liquid has evaporated.

6. Warm the tortillas in a skillet for about a minute on each side to make them pliable. Tortillas may also be warmed in a microwave oven. Arrange two or three tortillas on a plate, and lay a generous amount of beef over them. Top with a sprinkle of the onion relish and a large spoonful of the pureed salsa. Add as much cheese as you like. Garnish with lime wedges, and serve.