Taco Seasoning Mix

From the Make-A-Mix Cookbook published a bazillion years ago. LOL  Trust me... if you saw the photos in it, you'd understand.  Still a very valuable resource, however.

For my *special* blend, I add an additional teaspoon of ancho chili powder as well as upping the oregano and cumin to 1 teaspoon each. 

Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

2 teaspoons instant minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppers
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Instructions

Combine seasoning ingredients in a small bowl or container, package into small jar until ready for use.

To make tacos:

Brown ground beef and drain off fat. Add water and dry seasoning mixture. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 20-25 minutes. If mixture gets too thick before cooking is complete, add a small amount of water to thin. Serve on soft or hard taco shells topped with your favorite vegetables and sauce.

Taco Soup

This was tonight’s dinner.  Very flavorful and filling.  The only changes I made were to use Velveeta (I mixed it right in at the end, stirring until it melted) and topped it with a spoonful of sour cream and some tortilla strips.

 

Taco Soup

Prep Time: 5 min

Total Time: 25 min

Makes: 12 servings, 1 cup each

What You Need!

1 lb. Extra lean ground beef

1   onion, chopped

3 cans (15.5 oz. Each) mild chili beans, undrained

1 can  (14.5 oz.) whole tomatoes, undrained

1 can (14.25 oz.) corn, undrained

1 can  (8 oz.) tomato sauce

1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix

1-1/2 cups  water

1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Make It!

BROWN meat with onions in large saucepan; drain.

ADD all remaining ingredients except cheese; stir, breaking up tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally.

SERVE topped with the cheese.

Recipe courtesy of Kraft Foods.

The Cheesecake Factory Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes

The Cheesecake Factory Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes

Salsa Verde
2 tomatillos, chopped (remove papery thin)
1 4-ounce can mild green chilies
1 green onion
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
1 1/4 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Southwestern Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon water
3/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
dash salt
dash garlic powder

Tomato Salsa
1 medium tomato
1 tablespoon minced Spanish onion
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
1/4 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 small fresh jalapeno, minced
dash salt
dash ground black pepper

Cakes
1 1/2 cups frozen sweet corn
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup corn masa (corn flour)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Garnish
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 avocado, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped

Prepare salsa verde by combining all ingredients (tomatillos,
green chilies, green onion, cilantro, sugar, cumin, salt, and pepper)
in a food processor on high speed. Cover and chill.

Prepare tomato salsa by combining all ingredients (diced tomato,
onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno, salt, and pepper) in a small
bowl. Cover and chill.

Prepare southwestern sauce by combining all ingredients
(mayonnaise, vinegar, water, sugar, chili powder, paprika, cayenne,
onion powder, salt, and garlic powder) in a small bowl. Cover and
chill.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare the tamale cakes by chopping 1 cup of the frozen corn in a
food processor until it's coarsely pureed. Combine pureed corn with
softened butter, sugar, and salt. Blend well with electric mixer
until smooth.

Add masa and flour and blend well. Mix in the remaining 1/2 cup of
frozen corn kernels by hand.

Measure 1/2 cup portions of the mixture and form it into 3-inch
wide patties with your hands. arrange the patties on a baking sheet
and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cakes are browned on the
bottom. Carefully flip all cakes with a spatula and bake for an
additional 5 to 7 minutes or until other side is browned.

While the cakes are baking, spoon a portion of the salsa verde
onto a plate or platter (you may want to heat up your plate in the
oven for a bit to help warm the sauce). You'll need to use enough
salsa verde to coat the entire plate -- it should be about 1/4-inch
deep. Arrange the tamale cakes side-by-side on the salsa verde. Spoon a dollop of sour cream onto each tamale cake. Drizzle the
southwestern sauce over the cakes in a criss-cross patter (use a
squirt bottle if you've got one -- see "Tidbits"). Spoon some tomato
salsa over the cakes, followed by the chopped avocado. Finish off the
plate by sprinkling the coarsely chopped cilantro leaves over the
top.

Serves 4

Applebee’s Chicken Cheese Tortilla Soup

Applebee's Chicken Cheese Tortilla Soup

1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
4 cups chicken broth
15 oz. can tomato puree (see note)
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup hot sauce - optional
1/4 cup chopped green pepper - optional
1 Tbsp. minced jalapeño pepper - optional
1 tsp. chili powder - optional
1/4 tsp. black pepper - optional
1/4 cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1/2 cup water
1 lb. cooked chicken - cubed
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
8 oz. process cheese food - cut in 1" cubes
(10) 6" corn tortillas - cut in 1/4" strips
chopped cilantro - optional, for garnish

Sauté garlic and onions in oil in large pan or Dutch oven until soft.
Add next 10 ingredients to pot, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and
simmer 20 minutes.

Whisk flour/water mixture into soup.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add chicken and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add cream, sour cream, and cheese; stir until cheese is melted.

Deep-fry tortilla strips in 350F degree oil OR spray with non-stick
cooking spray and bake in a 400 degree oven until crisp.

Sprinkle with salt if desired.

Pour soup into bowls, pile tortilla strips into a "haystack" shape on
top of the soup, garnish with cilantro.

Note: I use an 8 oz can tomato sauce and add another a can full of
chicken broth to rinse the can and make up the difference

Mexican Rice Mix

Mexican Rice Mix

4      cups          raw long grain rice
4      teaspoons     salt
1      teaspoon      dried basil
1/2  cup           green pepper flakes
5      teaspoons     parsley flakes

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; stir until well blended.
Put about 1 1/2 cups of mix into three 1-pint airtight containers and label as Mexican Rice Mix.  Store in a cool, dry place and use within 6 to 8 months.

Makes about 4 1/2 cups of mix.  Mexican Rice: Combine 1 1/2 cups of mix, 2 cups cold water, and 1 T butter or margarine in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a boil over high heat; cover and reduce heat.
Cook for 15 to 25 minutes, until liquid is absorbed.  Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Tacoed Eggs

Tacoed Eggs

Country Woman

One morning, I was searching the kitchen for a way to jazz up scrambled eggs. When I couldn't find any bacon bits, I decided to try the leftover taco filling from the night before. I've been making it for my husband and me since. This is an ideal dish for two, especially if you like spicy food. Plus, it's easy to make when you wake up sleepy—and the sauce is a real eye-opener! We live on 35 acres of rolling farmland along with a horse, two dogs and 10 cats, I enjoy them reading, writing, gardening and counted cross-stitch.

SERVINGS: 4
CATEGORY: Breakfast/Brunch
METHOD:
TIME: Prep/Total Time: 20 min.

8 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
1 to 4 drops hot pepper sauce
1/2 cup leftover cooked taco-seasoned ground beef
Flour tortillas, warmed, optional
Salsa, optional

In a bowl, combine eggs, cheese, onion, green pepper and hot pepper sauce. Cook and stir in a nonstick skillet until eggs begin to set. Add taco meat; cool until eggs are completely set. If desired, spoon onto a warmed tortilla and roll up; top with salsa. Yield: 4 servings.

Mexican Sloppy Joes

Mexican Sloppy Joes

Make sloppy joes even better when you spice up the filling and tuck it in a flaky crescent crust.

Prep Time: 25 Min
Total Time: 40 Min
Makes: 8 sandwiches

2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated flaky dough sheet
1/2 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef
2 tablespoons Old El Paso taco seasoning mix (from 1-oz package)
1 cup Old El Paso Thick 'n Chunky salsa
1 cup shredded Cheddar-Jack with jalapeno peppers cheese blend (4 oz)
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon cornmeal

Heat oven to 375F. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll both cans of dough on work surface; press into two 12x8-inch rectangles. Cut into total of 8 rectangles.

In 10-inch skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked. Stir in taco seasoning mix and salsa; simmer 5 minutes. Spoon about 1/4 cup meat mixture in center of 1 dough rectangle. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Fold rectangle over to form triangle; press edges with fork to seal. Place on cookie sheet. Brush with egg; sprinkle with cornmeal. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until deep golden brown.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 12 to 17 minutes.

Source: Pillsbury

Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip

Cheesiest Fried Chicken Empanadas with Chili Con Queso Dip

3 cups chopped, cooked chicken, about 4 to 5 chicken breasts
1 (8-ounce) package shredded colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 chopped red bell pepper
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
Water
Preheat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl using a rubber spatula, combine the chicken, colby and Monterey cheese, cream cheese, red pepper, jalapeno, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Remove 1 pie crust from pie tin onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter.

Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of crust with water.

Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture.

Place empanadas in deep-fryer for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Top with con queso dip.

Note: Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month

Chili Con Queso Dip
1 pound package Cheddar (recommended: Velveeta)
1 (16-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
2 teaspoons hot sauce
In a medium sauce pot, slowly melt Cheddar over medium/low heat. When cheese is fully melted add tomatoes, chiles, and hot sauce, stirring with spoon until combined well.

Pour cheese dip into a small casserole dish and serve as a dip for the cheesy empanadas or pour on top for a real cheesy effect.

Fiesta Dip

Fiesta Dip

2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 package French's Taco Seasoning Mix (1.25 oz)
1 T. red hot cayenne pepper sauce (Durkee)
1/4 cup milk
Shredded lettuce
Green onion, sliced
Ripe olives, sliced
tomato, chopped
Cheese, shredded
tortilla chips

Beat together cream cheese, taco seasoning mix, pepper sauce and milk in food processor or mixer.

Spoon dip into small serving bowl; place on platter. Surround with lettuce and sprinkle generously with green onion, ripe olives, tomato and cheese. Serve with tortilla chips.