If you think of iconic American tacos, the crispy taco what most often comes to mind. This style, which also goes by the name of hard-shell tacos or crunchy tacos, is defined by the corn tortilla fried into a U shape, then stuffed with meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese.

History. The packaged pasta brand "Hamburger Helper" was introduced by General Mills in 1971 in response to a meat shortage and rising meat prices. In 2005, Food Network rated it third on its list of "Top Five Fad Foods of 1970". In 2013, the company shortened the brand's name to just "Helper".

We can only speculate as to why Deluxe Chili with Beans didn't stick around Helper's roster of flavors, but possible redundancy might have had something to do with it. The company still makes Chili Macaroni and Crunchy Taco flavored Hamburger Helpers - perhaps Deluxe Chili with Beans was too similar?

Is Hamburger Helper Healthy to Eat? Boxed Hamburger Helper is high in sodium. The mix alone contains 550 milligrams of sodium and it's closer to 990 milligrams once prepared; the American Heart Association's recommended daily sodium intake for adults is 1500 milligrams.

Despite this history, Glenn Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, is largely credited with the creation of hard shell tacos. Taco Bell, a white-owned company, took a Northern Mexican dish and the idea of Mexican restaurateurs to create pre-formed shells, and exploited them both for profit.

Tacos dorados - tacos assembled with a soft tortilla, then rolled or pinched shut and fried whole until the tortilla turns shatter-crisp - have been a part of northern Mexican cooking for as long as tacos and frying oil have been around.

According to the Food Lovers Companion, The name "hamburger" comes from the seaport town of Hamburg, Germany, where it is thought that 19th-century sailors brought back the idea of raw shredded beef (known today as beef tartare) after trading with the Baltic provinces of Russia.

A burger is a patty of ground beef grilled and placed between two halves of a bun. Slices of raw onion, lettuce, bacon, mayonnaise, and other ingredients add flavor. Burgers are considered an American food but are popular around the world. In Japan, teriyaki burgers are popular.

Glenn Bell According to Pilcher, the original patents for preformed taco shells were awarded to Mexican restaurant owners in the 1940s. Despite this history, Glenn Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, is largely credited with the creation of hard shell tacos.

High-end consumers are shifting toward fresher items with fewer processed ingredients while cost-conscious shoppers are buying inexpensive store brands. The makers of staples including Chef Boyardee canned pasta and Hamburger Helper meal kits failed to spot the threat and didn't innovate in time.

Hamburgers can contain more fat and calories than other types of meat due to their additional toppings and sauces, so if you are trying to watch your calorie intake, opt for a leaner cut of ground beef or turkey.

Some ideas that you can try in small batches instead of the whole dish:

1. Mix in some chopped tomatoes (canned and drained or fresh) and maybe sour cream, ricotta or plain yogurt.
2. I love to mix in frozen peas when I cook my hamburger helper.

The argument for the hard shell is simple: It has more salt. And if American cooking has taught us anything, it's that a little more salt makes everything taste better. The spices of the shell complement the flavors held inside and add an extra kick to their punch.

Glen Bell The SF Weekly talked to two taco experts to find out the origins of the “anglo taco.” Although there are a couple restaurants in Texas that could lay claim to inventing the crispy taco, it was Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell, who made them popular.

Juvencio Maldonado, a restaurant owner from Oaxaca living in New York, is sometimes credited as the original inventor of a hard shell taco-making machine, and received a patent for it in 1950.

A burger is a flat round mass of minced meat or vegetables, which is fried and often eaten in a bread roll.