Homemade Taco Seasoning

I love making foods with Tex-Mex or Mexican flavors. Taco seasoning has some of my favorite spices all blended together. I use to, on rare occasions, dabble with a recipe for making my own mix since I could never seem to have packets of it in the cupboards when I wanted to make taco's. The day I found this recipe, I was hooked. It's simple, fast, and easy!

Then one day I read the ingredients in the store bought packet I had on hand. . . .  I never bought a packet again. I am not exactly running around eating all healthy foods, but I was shocked to see such a list of ingredients beyond spices! That was the last packet that I ever bought. 

This recipe is so much easier to have on hand than a packet. Try it, I am sure you will love it too!

Homemade Taco Seasoning  (Adapted From Smells Like Home)

1/4 c. ancho chili powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
1/2 t. crushed red pepper flakes
2 t. dried oregano
2 t. paprika
2 T. ground cumin
3 t. sea salt

1/2 t. black pepper

Combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container.

Add 2 1/2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix, with 1/2 cup of water to one pound of ground meat.   Simmer for about 15 minutes or until liquid is reduced. 

Substitute 2 1/2 Tablespoons of mix in recipe calling for one packet of taco seasoning.

Printable Recipe

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Rotisserie "Chicken Scratch" Chicken

It seems like it has been so hard to get any cooking accomplished the last two weeks.  Adding a flock of chickens to our lives has definitely been an adjustment. Hmmm . . . . Does a dozen chickens make a flock? Not sure, but in my book it does!

Add to the chickens, the fact that truckin' man has been having mechanical issues. I had to take off at midnight one night last week to go pick him up. I spent an hour drivin' to get to the repair shop he was going to, only to have him not be there. Checked all the local truck stops.... not there either... and believe me, even though this isn't exactly a high population area, trolling around the truck stops at 2 a.m. was NOT my favorite thing to be doin'! Super long story short, I gave up and headed for home. Please note that during all this, I am ringing his phone every five to ten minutes.  Well, his phone finally decided to start working about 2:30 a.m., once I was about 5 miles from home. Since I hadn't called him, he parked at an empty lot while he was waiting for me. I think it is finally time to quit talking about getting him a new phone and just do it!!! I was then late for work the next morning, and still had to get our youngest Hazel in, to get her spayed. Yikes, was I beat!

After a week of lots of pizzas, frozen foods and fast foods, I finally was able to get back in the kitchen this weekend. Sunday, I was able to try a couple recipes that have been on my list from South Your Mouth.  I just LOVE southern food, it may not always be the healthiest, but you can count on it tasting the best!  For dinner, we had Chicken and Greasy Rice, adapted to fit my timing issues.  Then for dessert Suck It, Betty Crocker Chocolate Cake. I didn't get a pic of this cake, I didn't get it frosted either. Sometimes, there just isn't time to do anything but grab a fork!  If you like chocolate, you have to try it :)

I really wanted to try the Slow Roasted Oven method in the recipe, but by the time I got my act together, I didn't have enough time. So, I pulled out my Baby George Rotisserie.  Rubbed down my chicken with this amazing Chicken Scratch Recipe. Set the timer for 90 minutes, and done! YUM! I can't wait to use this seasoning blend again! 

Chicken Scratch (Source: South Your Mouth)

2 T. salt

2 T. paprika

2 T. garlic powder

1 T. dried thyme

1 T. onion powder 

1 T. white pepper

1 T. black pepper

1 T. cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients together, and store in an airtight container.