LET'S JUST MAKE OUR OWN

Have you ever started making lunch or dinner and found you were out of the seasonings to finish it? We usually remember the main ingredients like meat, potatos, pasta, rice or beans, cheese etc., but it's hard to make a meal without the ingredients that "tie it all together".

What would Taco's be without the Taco seasoning? Or homemade Chili, etc.?

This happened to me last week and I vowed once and for all not to be without a "seasoning packet" again. No, I didn't run down to the local corner store or all the way in to town to fix my mistake. But, thankfully, I had enough spices on hand to wing it (make it happen).

So, from now on instead of keeping packets of taco seasoning and chili seasoning and stew seasoning and speghetti seasoning on hand, I am going to make a diligent effort to make some up and keep it in stock, in small jars.

I used to do that when I cooked more often and for more people, but I've become lazy in that area I guess.

Homemade seasonings taste better and have no preservatives and additives to make us feel guilty. They are easy to make up and much cheaper in the long run than buying packets of seasoning for every different thing.

Here is my recipe for Taco Seasoning. I will post more recipes as I make them up. If you choose to make your own, keep in mind that you can adjust the amounts to your family's preferences and add or leave out anything you please. In other words, make it your own!

This recipe will make enough seasoning to use in 5 meals of tacos (at 1 pound of ground beef or chicken in each batch). You can make more or less by adjusting the recipe.

In a small jar mix the following dry ingredients.

Put the lid on and then shake it up:

5 Tablespoons chili powder

5 Teaspoons ground cumin

5 Teaspoons salt

2 1/2 Teaspoons paprika

1 1/4 Teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/4 Teaspoons onion powder

1 1/4 Teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/4 Teaspoons black pepper

Several pinches of red pepper flakes (adjusted to your taste)

Two tablespoons of dry mix will season 1 pound of meat.

You will use 1/4 cup of water per 2 tablespoons of dried mix.

Label and enjoy!

~ Gwen of IRISH ACRES