Trader Joe's Tri-Tip Asada

A “carne asada” is the Mexican equivalent to an American barbecue. Traditionally, marinated beef is roasted over a large fire pit while friends and family gather and prepare to eat.

But, with Trader Joe's Tri-Tip Asada, you don’t need a large fire pit – a grill will do (or even an oven). It is a fresh cut of tri-tip that comes marinating in a Mexican-inspired spice blend. At $5.99 per pound (comes in cuts of about 3 lbs.), it's a winner.

It grills up low and slow, to produce a moist and tender, but vibrant, piece of meat. Slice it up and serve with guacamole, salsa, cheese and tortillas to make fabulous fajitas. Or, do like I did and pair with a zesty salad and add some cornbread on the side. ¡Delicioso!

I am going to share one of my secrets with you. Something that is incredibly easy and absolutely scrumptious is cornbread mix. You can find it in the International foods aisle. You add water, butter, a can of creamed corn, mix & bake! The result is a very nice addition to any Mexican-style meal.

For the salad, I shredded some romaine and topped with Trader Joe's Corn Salsa, Mexican mix cheese, and ranch dressing.

What a great summer meal!