Homemade Seasonings

A few weeks ago, the boys wanted tacos, after I thawed and fried the hamburg I realized I didn't have any taco seasoning so I searched the internet for a taco seasoning I could make from scratch.


Taco Seasoning Mix

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp onion powder

3/4 tsp garlic salt

1-1/2 tsp paprika

1-12tsp cumin

1/2 tsp salt

dash of cayenne

Preparation:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Pour into small glass or plastic container, seal tightly and store in a cool, dry place

I also found this fajita seasoning mix, really liked this one.

Fajita Seasoning

• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. paprika
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 2-1/2 tsp. crushed chicken bouillon cube
• 1-1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp. cumin

Preparation:

Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Pour into small glass or plastic container, seal tightly and store in a cool, dry place. Makes the equivalent of 3 packets of commercial or purchased Fajita Seasoning Mix.

Baked Apples

Last fall I canned applesauce, for 4 bushels worth and it was already gone a couple months ago.  So I've been buying applesauce for the store but it's just not the same.  So I remembered this recipe my mom used to make when I was a kid and wanted to share it with you.

what you need

• 6-8 Apples
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 TBLS flour
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Little Cinnamon
• 2 TBSP butter

make it

Peel and quarter apples in 1/8's and put into 2 quart baking dish. Pour water over apples. Mix sugar, flour, salt and pour over apples. Sprinkle top with cinnamon and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Notes

To make this recipe faster, put in microwave to 10-15 minutes instead

Chicken Quedsadillas

Here's another favorite of Mike and me.  The boys usually don't eat these...it's usually something I make when the boys eat something really quick, and then after their in bed I make dinner for  Mike and me .

Basically these are the ingredients I use...I typically have them all in the house so it's something I can make last minute.

First, to go into the pan is the chicken,

then the salsa,

and finally the spice - oregano, cumin, a dash of salt, and I add onion powder or minced onions, instead of the green onions that the recipe calls for.

mix together and simmer until warm all the way through

While the chicken mixture is simmering, butter one side of each tortilla.

After that, comes the fun part, making the quesadilla

top with another tortilla and throw it in the oven.  about 10 minutes later....

out comes this awesome, delicious supper that no one could turn down. 

Chicken Quesadillas

what you need

• 2-1/2 cups shredded cooked Chicken
• 2/3 cup salsa
• 1/3 c sliced green onions
• 3/4 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 6 flour tortillas
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

make it

In a skillet, combine cooked chicken, salsa, onion, cumin, salt and oregano. Cook uncovered over medium heater for 10 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Brush one side of tortilla with melted butter. Spoon 1/3 cup of chicken mixture over half of unbuttered side of each tortilla. Sprinkle with 1.3 cup cheese; fold plain side of tortilla over the cheese. Place on slightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 475 degrees for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Cut into wedges and serve with sour cream and guacamole.

Taco Pie

*For those who follow this blog regular, I'm sorry that I just posted pictures on Monday.  I had wanted to upload the pictures, save the post and them add to it later.  I didn't realize that the pictures were posted.  So for that I'm sorry.  on onto the blog post.*

Living on a cow farm, we have beef...lots of beef.  I make hamburgers, meatloaf, tacos, taco pies, anything and everything that has burger.   It's easiest for me to fry up a couple pounds of burger at once, season it with taco seasoning and throw it back in the freezer  We usually have this about once every 2 to 3 weeks.  It's a kid's favorite in our house.

gather the ingredients: chips, pie crust, cheese, sour cream, & taco meat

roll the pie crust out and place in pie plate, I prefer to use the ready made crust, but if you'd like, go ahead and make it from scratch.  Then spread a layer of crushed taco chips, you know the crumbs at the bottom of the bag.

drop the taco meat in next,  ( I actually used some leftover taco soup on this day...that's why there's corn and beans mixed in with the meat.)

next spread a thick layer of sour cream over the meat.

throw  a large handful of cheddar cheese on next,

and finally top with more crushed chips

As you can see, the boys loved it so much that there was only a few crumb left in the bottom of the pie plate from dinner.

Taco Pie

what you need

• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 pkg taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 pie crust
• 1 cup taco chips
• 1 cup sour cream
• 4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

make it

Brown and drain ground beef; add taco seasoning & water, simmer. 

In an unbaked pie crust, layer taco chips, meat mixture, and sour cream. Sprinkle with cheese and top with taco chips.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes

Creme Filled Cookies

Let me go back a few years when Brendan was in kindergarten.   He made a recipe card holder;  I believe it was for a Mother's day gift.   Along with the holder was a recipe for these awesome little cookies. (Thanks, Wendy!!!)   The only down fall is the recipe doesn't make very many cookie sandwiches; I think today I only got 10 sandwiches from the one batch.  But I guess that way we don't have a ton of cookies around the house either...and that's a good thing :)

First I mixed the ingredients together, shaped with dough into 1" balls, and baked them in a 350 degree oven

Here's what we get - these lovely chocolate morsels

yum!  Then after the cookies have cooled, I need to get some frosting.  

Now the easy way it to buy a container of frosting and slap some between 2 cookies.  But today, I didn't have a jar of frosting in the house, so I made a quick and easy recipe.

Now for frosting the cookies, my boys think the more frosting....

the better.

Then stack another cookie on top.

Enjoy!!!

Creme Filled Cookie

what you need

• 1 box of chocolate cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 container of ready made frosting

make it

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all cookie ingredients; mix well. Firmly shape dough into 1' balls. Place 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9-13 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute, remove from cookie sheet. Spread frosting between 2 cooled cookies. Enjoy!

In case you want to make the frosting here's the recipe I used.

Easy Vanilla Frosting

what you need

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 4 to 5 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup milk or cream

make it

In a large bowl, beat together the butter, shortening, and salt till fluffy. Add about half the confectioners' sugar, and beat slowly until well blended. Add the vanilla and half the milk or cream, and beat until fluffy. Continue mixing in sugar and milk alternately until they've been completely incorporated. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.

Almond Strawberry Lettuce Salad *UPDATED*

Once a month, we head to the lake shore to have Sunday lunch at my parents house.  My mom takes care of the main course, and all us, daughter try and chip in with a salad, rolls or dessert.


The last couple months I have gotten stuck taking a salad...the same salad because it's soooo good.  You'll just have to take my word for it, because I don't have any pictures for this one.

Almond Strawberry Lettuce Salad

what you need

• 1 bag of romaine Lettuce
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 8 oz sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 3 TBSP sugar
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Dressing ingredients:
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 TBSP poppy seeds
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1-1/2 TBSP sour cream

make it

Tear all lettuce into pieces and put into salad bowl. Add onions, then strawberries in layers. In nonstick stove top pan heat and stir almonds and 3 TBSP sugar on mew low heat until sugar in liquidized. Cook almonds and then add to salad. Top salad with mozzarella cheese.

In dressing shaker bottle, add all dressing ingredients and shade until well mixed. Can pour over salad or serve as a side dressing.

The only suggestion I have is only use 1/4 cup of milk so the dressing isn't so running.

Try it I doubt you will be disappointed.  It's so Delish!!!!

 updated on 4/12/10.  Here's a picture of the salad I recently took.

Birthday Treats

Remember having to put your head down on your desk in elementary school then someone had a birthday?  Remember the suckers, Jolly Rancher sticks, and bags of m&m's you would get?  Well this past Monday, Lucas and Austin celebrated their 6th birthday.  And these days the kids give up cupcakes in ice cream cones or a bag full of goodies and I really didn't want to do either.  But I had to come up with something BIG seeing how I had two kids that needed treats and I didn't want to do two treats.  So this is what I came up with...one huge 3 in1 bear cookie, yes that's right 3 cookies stacked on top of each other to create this adorable cookie.


I have made lots of cut out cookies in the past years, decorating them is kind of a stress reliever for me, yes I know that's strange.  But I have fun doing this and Mike is really good at keeping the boys away from me while I'm being creative.  


Like many other cookie recipes, I have tried tons of different roll out cookie recipes.  I really like my MIL's recipe when I leave the dough pretty thick and unbake them just a bit. I also came across I just love and that's the recipe I would like to share with you today.

Soft Sugar Cookies

what you need

• 4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream

make it

1. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Bear in the egg, vanilla, and sour cream until well blended. Stir in the sifted ingredients. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out in 1/4 inch in thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 1/2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

I find that if I roll them a little thick and do not overbake, they are the best and stay moist