Homemade Taco Seasoning

I have tried homemade taco seasoning powders and I always end up back with the store bought packets for different reasons.  One reason is that I can usually get the pouches for free at sale and coupon and you know that I like free.  The second reason is that the homemade ones never taste nearly as good to me.  I am sure that my body must love all the extras that they put in the seasonings but it nicely adheres to the meat and makes a great little sauce.

I decided to try a new recipe which I found on the Pioneer Women website when searching options.  I pulled out all of the ingredients from the spice cupboard including a few different options of each kind of spice.

I took the measurements and poured each one into an empty spice jar that I had washed out and keep in the cupboard.  It actually started to look a little like the sand art that I do with my son.

I put the top on and shook the bottle.  It mixed together really easily and looked a lot like the packaged taco seasoning mix to me.

I decided to try it for the first time with half a package of taco seasoning and half of this homemade seasoning and the taste was great.  With the added benefit that I only had half of a package of taco seasoning left.  Taco seasoning has some thicken agents in them so sometimes to get that more saucy feeling to the taco meat, you need to cook it up and add the seasoning and water.  If it doesn't get to the consistency that you want mix water and corn starch in a container until combined and add it to the  taco meat.  It should help the meat to be a little more saucy and still have that same great flavor.  I can't wait to try this taco seasoning again!!

Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions

Measure out all the ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well. Then taste and adjust the salt or spices as desired. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

For a larger batch (the equivalent of about 6 packets), use:

1/4 cup chili powder
3 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon each paprika, crushed red pepper, and salt
1 1/2 teaspoons each garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, black pepper

I hope that you try a recipe to make your own Taco Seasoning and enjoy!!!  Do you have any recipes that you like to make so you don't have to buy things at the store??

Apricot Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

My mom was visiting so I decided that it was the perfect opportunity to make one of my favorite salad dressing that I have never made because I have no one to share it with.  My husband would much prefer the store bought blue cheese dressing to anything else.  My friend, Anne, made this for me on more than one occasion and kindly shared it ages ago (click here for original recipe).  I didn't have any of the fancy vinegar like she used which was white champagne vinegar but I figured that the regular stuff would do for me to try it!!

I put the oil and vinegar with a little salt in the container and gave it a good shake.  I was going to mix it with a whisk in a bowl but I didn't have time or energy because most of the dinner was already on the table.  I am super glad that I didn't because it would have made a much bigger mess then just mixing in the bottle.  I didn't add pepper because I didn't think that my mom would like it but I added it later because I thought it needed it.

I added the apricot jelly or preserves that I had bought and never used for another recipe so I was super happy to get to use it now.  I shook the bottle and served it!!! 

This was so easy that I could have made it even if I was the only one to eat it.  The final salad dressing was amazing and great served over the home grown salad greens from my mom's friend.  Sorry I didn't take a picture of the salad but it was gone quickly before there was a chance.  If I don't eat the second half of the dressing, I think that I might use it to marinate chicken.  I think that it would make a fabulous flavor for the chicken too!!!  I hope that you try out this easy recipe and guests will think that you made a big effort to make them salad dressing with things straight from the cupboard.

Apricot Vinaigrette Dressing

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or white vinegar

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and ground black pepper

1/4 cup apricot all fruit spread or preserves

Mix vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper in bowl or jar.  Add apricot preserves and shake or mix until combined. 

Homemade Salad Dressing

My dad called me and told me that he found a recipe in his AARP magazine and he thought that I would be interested in it.  He read me the ingredients and the quick directions.  I told him that it sounded really good and I would love a copy if he could shoot me an e-mail.  When the e-mail didn't come and the mood hit to have some salad, I called and got the recipe over the phone (typing as quickly as I could).  Of course, I could have just google it and saved the trouble because I found it, here!!  I just didn't know what I was looking for until I typed the whole thing out first :)

Have you ever made salad dressing from scratch?  Do you do it regularly?  I was one to buy salad dressing at the store and try two or three different salad dressing on one salad before giving up and just finishing it with whatever I spilled too much of.  I never find one that suits my fancy until now.

I didn't have all the ingredients to make the whole salad, nor the time before having family over for dinner but I knew that my mother in law would love the dressing.  Even if you don't have the time, you can try the topping, the salad or the dressing as your schedule allows.  I hope to make it all soon!!

I pulled out the red wine vinegar and I realized that I didn't have enough.  I decided to use what I had and use the other half with the Red Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar that I had in the cupboard.  I haven't had anything to use it on yet so I was pretty excited that this would be tasty.  I measured the vinegar and added the sugar to dissolve in the measuring cup.

I pulled out my old Good Seasonings salad dressing container which I had kept and not used for years.  I am super glad that I had a reason to clean it off.  I also pulled out the spices that I needed to add.

I pour the vinegar combination into the bottle and added the spices.  I added the oil before shaking!  Oops!!  The container was too full to shake very well so when you do it, make sure to shake first :)

The finished product was a full container of salad dressing and plenty to last me a good long time.  It was great over a salad with strawberries and almonds on top (even if I didn't get to make the whole topping).  I had a salad the next night and I am looking forward to trying some to marinate some chicken.  My new favorite salad dressing recipe by far!!  Try making it for yourself soon :)

Strawberry Salad

1 package crushed ramen noodles

¼ c sliced almonds

¼ sunflower seeds

¼ c butter, melted

Head of romaine

5 oz baby spinach

1 pint strawberries, thinly sliced

1 c Parmesan cheese

Dressing

¾ c sugar

½ c red wine vinegar (or 1/4 c red wine vinegar and 1/4 c balsamic vinegar)

¾ c vegetable oil

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp salt

2 cloves of garlic minced

To make topping:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix ramen, almond, sunflower and melted butter.  Transfer to baking sheet and toast in oven until browned about 10 minutes.  Set aside to cool. 

To make salad:

Tear the lettuce and combine with spinach, strawberries and cheese. 

To make the dressing:

Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar.  Combine the last four ingredients and add to mixture.  Mix well and store in the fridge.

Shared at EMM Church Supper and Swap and Share Sunday at Spatulas on Parade