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Frugal/ HOME/ Meals/ RECIPES

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix & Taco Pizza

You will never have to buy over-priced, way-too-much-salt, sometimes ‘msg added’ taco seasoning packets again!  This taco seasoning mix is so easy to make and tastes really great!  I feel it gives a much richer, “homemade” flavor to every recipe I use it in.  I have used to season ground beef for tacos, nachos, & taco pizza.  I have used it to season refried beans, and to season lentils for vegetarian tacos. You can even use it to season chicken.

Taco Seasoning Mix

Recipe source-Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

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Here is the recipe quadrupled, to make a large batch.  Store in a mason jar. 🙂

  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 tablespoons ground cumin
  • 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon black pepper

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Hints:



~Use 3 teaspoons (more if want stronger flavor) per pound of meat.  Add 2/3 cup water and simmer down until water is absorbed.

~If you prefer, you could sprinkle 1/2 tablespoon of flour to help thicken sauce.  I find this is not necessary.

~Adjust salt and red pepper flakes to your taste.  I usually use a bit less of both.

~You could make a large batch and give away in small mason jars as a thoughtful gift.

~Buying seasonings in bulk is the way to go!  Amazon has some great deals, like McCormick Gourmet Collection Chili Powder.

Use the above link and I will receive a small percentage of what you spend.  Thanks!!

 

Taco Pizza No Recipe, Recipe

Premade pizza crust (we use premade dough from Trader Joes)
Pizza Sauce (we also get from Trader Joes)
Cheese
Ground Beef Seasoned with Taco Seasoning Mix (or beans or lentils)
Lettuce (we use spinach)
Tomato
Corn
Taco Sauce or Salsa
Corn Chips, crumbled

Top pizza crust with sauce, add cheese and meat (or beans).  Bake according to pizza crust directions.  Cool slightly.  Add toppings you prefer and serve with taco sauce or salsa!

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Meals/ RECIPES/ Sides/ Sweets

Top “Less Healthy” Recipes From New Nostalgia 2011

Just trust me on this…these are funky awesome!
After looking high and low, I finally found my go to Pot Roast recipe.  I make this on special occasions for the family.
These are flaky, tender, deliciousness.  My kids devour them.
Kettle Corn Crispie Bars
They are crunchy, gooey, chewy, buttery, salty/sweet, chocolate-y squares of heaven. 

This recipe is quite healthy, if you are a meat eater.  
Taste of home!
This is moist, dense but light at the same time.  The pureed strawberries make it.
These beauties are made with a box mix, frosting mix, and jarred caramel sauce.  Easy!
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HOME/ Meals/ RECIPES/ Simplifying

Crockpot Dinners For The Freezer

I have no time today to write a post, so I thought I would share a super great post written by Stephanie of  Mama & Baby Love.  I am really excited to have stumbled upon her post at Pinterest.  
She writes about Crock Pot dinners for the freezer.  You buy and chop all ingredients in one day, freeze the meals separately, to be tossed into a crock pot for easy dinners throughout the month.
She includes 3 amazing-sounding recipes, which makes 6 dinners.  I love that her recipes are full of vegetables.

mabl
Go here to check out her recipes and her process of making Crock pot meals for the freezer!
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GF, Vegan & Raw/ Meals/ RECIPES/ Sides

Chilled Melon Soup with Kiwi Salsa

This is a lite, sweet treat that is very easy to make and makes quite a bit of soup!  My girls loved the kiwi salsa, it was their favorite part. The original recipe called for watermelon in the salsa, which would be so pretty, but I didn’t have any so we used bits of cantaloupe instead. We poured leftover soup into Popsicle molds for a refreshing frozen treat.

Chilled Melon Soup with Kiwi Salsa
{adapted from “If It Makes You Healthy“}
Serves 6
1/2 cup diced, cantaloupe (or watermelon)
1 kiwi, peeled and diced
2 good-sized mint leaves, chopped (optional)
1 medium sized ripe cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and chopped (about 3 cups)
6 ounces plain dairy or soy yogurt
6 ounces peach or vanilla dairy or soy yogurt
1/2 cup orange juice
11/2 tsp agave nectar or honey
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1. In a small glass bowl, combine the diced melon, kiwi and mint.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
2. In a blender, blend half of the cantaloupe, half the yogurts, and 1/4 cup of the orange juice on medium speed until very smooth.  Transfer to a plastic or glass container.  Repeat with the remaining half of these ingredients.
3. Whisk in the agave nectar and salt until all soup is well mixed.  Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.  Serve garnished with the Kiwi salsa.
 
Healthy Eating/ Meals/ RECIPES

My New Favorite Lunch

I am having a ball exploring different plant-based foods.  My diet has never been more interesting and full of textures and colors.  No more boring sandwiches! 
The plate above consists of:
~French Lentil Soup (I make this recipe about every week!  Yum.)
~Creole Roasted Sweet Potatoes (recipe coming soon, another one I make and snack on all week)
~Spinach Topped with Raw Cashews
~Gluten-Free Lentil Crackers (I eat gluten, but bought them because they were on sale)
~Organic Green Grapes

I’ve also been making TONS of iced green tea every week and love drinking it with my lunch. I make an iced tea concentrate a couple times a week by doubling the tea bags.  I then store it in a mason jar in the refrigerator.  When I want a glass of iced tea,  I just add water and ice to some concentrate in another mason jar.  I sometimes use this Super Easy Iced Tea Concentrate overnight method.  When doing this, it reminds me to quick make my Perfect Iced Coffee recipe, as it too, is an overnight method. One cannot have too many great tasting beverages on hand!:)
Most days, I skip the overnight method and use one of my favorite kitchen appliances, an electric tea kettle.  It is great for heating water to the perfect temperature with just a flick of the button.  I really love it in the cold months, as it keeps the water hot for me all throughout the day.
My favorite brand if green tea Good Earth Lemongrass.  It is one of the only green teas that I don’t have the urge to add sugar to!  It is not bitter and the faint lemon flavor is delish.
What do you eat for lunch?
Do you have a favorite green tea?

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GF, Vegan & Raw/ Meals/ RECIPES

Red Lentil Sloppy Joes

This is a recipe that will be added to our “recipes we made on a regular basis” file.   I found the recipe at “Vegan Dad” it caught my eye because he called the recipe “kid-friendly”.  I have been on the search for recipes that I can make for family dinners that are plant based.  No cholesterol and no saturated fat.  My goal is to find recipes that are so good that my kids won’t miss the meat.  This is one of those recipes!
I was so pleased when the whole family munched away on their Red Lentil Sloppy Joes.  There was not one complaint about missing the meat.  I served a rare treat of tater tots along side of them, hoping to distract my girls from complaining about the lack of meat, but come to find out they were not necessary!:)  
I used leftovers as a dip for a whole wheat, Triscuit- type cracker.  It made a great and filling snack.
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Lentils are one of my favorite foods.   I make my husband and I a big pot of our favorite “French Lentil Soup” for lunch to eat throughout the week.  Lentils are packed with protein, fiber, iron, magnesium and B vitamins. They are a quick cooking legume and are super easy to make!
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Red Lentil Sloppy Joes
 “I love this version because the red wine vinegar gives it lots of zip. Red lentils are also a great choice because they cook quickly and are pretty neutral in flavour. The trick here is to cook the lentils until they are soft enough but not too much so they go mushy.“–V e g a n D a d

INGREDIENTS
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 onion, chopped
– 1 rib celery, chopped
– 1/2 green pepper, chopped
– 1/2 tsp oregano
– 1 cup red lentils, rinsed
– 1 cup ketchup
– 1 1/2 to 2 cups water (more if needed)
– 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
– 1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce (optional)
– 1 tbsp brown sugar (or sweetener of choice)
– salt to taste
– freshly ground black pepper
– Tabasco sauce to taste
METHOD
1. Heat oil in a frying pan over med-hi heat. Saute onion, celery, green pepper, and oregano for 5-7 mins, until onion is translucent and pepper has softened.
2. Add lentils and mix well. Add ketchup, 1 1/2 cups water, vinegar, Worcestershire (if using), sugar, salt and pepper, and Tabasco.
3. Bring to bubbling, then reduce heat, and cover. Cook for about 30 mins, stirring regularly, adding more water if needed until lentils are cooked but still hold their shape.
4. Serve on toasted rolls, open-faced if you want.


**I used some store bought buns from our local health food store, but if you want to make your own, I have a GREAT recipe for Homemade Buns In The Bread Maker.

4
Meals/ RECIPES

My Mom’s Taco Salad No Recipe-Recipe

My mom made the best Taco Salad when I was growing up.  I loved it!
She used: 
~Doritos Nacho Chips 
~Seasoned Taco Meat 
~Iceberg Lettuce 
~Cheese
~Tomatoes
~ Catalina dressing or Western Dressing.

I added a few ingredients to make it a bit more filling and healthy.
I used:
~Baby Lettuce Greens along with the Iceberg Lettuce (for antioxidants)
~Black Beans (for more fiber & protein) 
~Organic Tomatoes
~Organic Corn (for an added texture)
~Organic Cheese
~A brand of Nacho Chips that had no hydrogenated oils or preservatives in them 
~A Taco Seasoning Mix that had no msg or fillers in it.
~Organic, Grass Fed Beef
~Catalina Dressing (I chose this brand because it had no high fructose corn syrup in it)

This is a no recipe- recipe.  You just brown a pound of beef, drain, then season it with taco seasoning.  Prepare all other ingredients–tear iceberg lettuce, grate cheese, dice tomatoes, drain & rinse beans, slightly crush the chips. Throw all ingredients into a large bowl.  I just eye ball it, adding a little of this and a little of that!

Pour desired amount of dressing on top

Toss, serve and enjoy!!

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