Homemade Mexican Taco Seasoning Mix

I've been busy in my kitchen these past few days.  The rainy days here, have simply motivated me to bake, mix, and shake it up a little. 

I am finally at a point in our self-sufficiency stride, where all of my homemade goods (and home grown) are coming together in all of my recipes.

Homemade Mexican Taco Mix is made using home grown oregano, onions, and garlic.  I can then use the seasoning mix for all sorts of recipes, such as my salsa dip (using home canned salsa too).

Homemade Fajita Dry Mix

 It's very convenient to buy the packets of dry fajita mix at the grocery store, but you can make it yourself.  I've been making our dry taco mix for several years now.  

You most likely will have all of the ingredients to make this at home.  I buy some of my ingredients in organic/non-gmo bulk, which saves us money and allows me to have extra on hand to make many other dry mixes homemade.  Let me know if you make your dry Fajita mix without the sugar, and if it changes the flavor.  

Homemade Fajita Dry Mix

(makes about a 1/4 cup of dry mix)

I use all organic/non-gmo ingredients, and bulk buy some of them, as I make a lot from scratch

4 tsp. Chili Powder ( I buy bulk)

2 tsp. Ground Cumin (I buy bulk)

2 tsp. Paprika (I buy bulk)

1 tsp. Garlic Powder (we use homemade from homegrown)

1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (use more for more heat)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

Optional:

1/2 tsp or more of onion powder (we make this homemade)

1-2 Tbsp. sugar or brown sugar if your heat seasonings are on the spicy side, otherwise there is no need for sugar

2 Tbsp. = 1 store packet of dry mix

Mexican Lasagna ~ Taco Bar Meal Ideas

 

I happened to see this recipe in a cookbook from my Mom's old work place, and thought, "hm, I should try this."  Ha ha!  I love this cookbook, but this recipe was the most poorly written recipe I have ever tried.  The photo is putting the dish together sadly written instructions.

I didn't read the instructions when I shopped for ingredients, and what do you know?  There were ingredients in the instructions not listed at the top, and the layering of it all was not correct.  I decided to re-write the recipe, and share it.  You could make homemade corn tortillas for this.  We indulge maybe once (or twice) a year for this, as the corn tortillas spike my husband's sugar.

Here is the recipe they way I make it now:

We top ours with either onions/tomatoes or pico de gallo, shredded lettuce and sour cream.

Note:  I thaw tomatoes I froze from the garden, drain and add them vs. canned tomatoes (in case you grow a garden).  I cut the recipe in half for us.  Recipe is full recipe for a 9 x 13 in. baking dish.

Mexican Lasagna

In a large skillet brown:

2 pounds organic ground beef

1 onion, diced

Drain the grease off, and add either 4 Tbsp. of homemade taco seasoning, or add the following seasonings:

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. ground red pepper

1 tsp. pepper

Add 16 oz. diced tomatoes (one can with juice or home canned/frozen thawed).

For the cheese filling, mix together in a bowl:

24 oz. cottage cheese*

8 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1 egg

12 corn tortillas

Layer in a lasagna pan (or pan the same size), 6 corn tortillas, then layer half of the meat mixture, then half of the cheese mixture.  Repeat one more time.

Heat at 350°F for 30 minutes or until heated.

Top with shredded lettuce, pico (or diced tomatoes and onions), and sour cream.  Add anything you like, for example more grated cheese, olives, etc.

*I've used half cottage cheese and half ricotta and it tasted wonderful as well.

 

We tried a new homemade queso recipe.  I have made this with other cheese and homemade taco dry mix, but we liked this version better.  We are not vegan, but the nutritional yeast, does give it a nice cheesy flavor, and it reheats nicely. It is a small batch version, which we also like. I have only tried one crock pot version once, and we did not like it.

Homemade Queso

1 cup cottage cheese, blended smooth with a food processor or blender.

Add:  4 Tbsp. Bragg's Nutritional Yeast (non-gmo)

and 1 Tbsp. Homemade Fajita Dry Mix

Blend well, and heat to enjoy with your choice of dip chip or vegetable.

We love to make Mexican corn bread for when we attend/host a taco bar night/day.  

I am still on the hunt for a good, crock pot Mexican rice recipe.

A delicious crockpot side for Mexican Lasagna, and utilizes frozen off the cob corn (if you froze any), is Slow Cooker Creamed Corn (online recipe with The Southern Lady Cooks). 

I freeze my corn off the cob corn with butter, so I thaw the corn and only add half the butter the recipe calls for.  We love it!

I found another recipe to try soon, which involves sweet potatoes and a crock pot.  It's called Tex-Mex Sweet Potatoes and Onions from the cook book, The Clean Eating Slow Cooker.

Mexican Lasagna ~ Taco Bar Ideas  © Feb 2024 by Kristina at Pioneer Woman at Heart

Taco Soup ~ Praying Mantis

I'm up before the sun is again.  The weather is to be in the upper 80's, but it said to feel like 90's.  I need to water flowers before I start canning today.

I spent part of the day yesterday on the phone, making appointments. 

Taco Night ~ UFO's

New Year's Eve we had tacos, and hot bean taco dip.  I had to refill my homemade taco mix, and since I had my bulk containers of cumin and chili powder out, refilled my pantry jars too.  



We spent New Year's Day taking down the trees and outside lights.  Totes were all put away too. Got it all done by 10am too.  


It was a blistery snowy, windy day New Year's Eve day.  I took advantage of it and cleaned out the fridge, and tackled one of my UFO's.  I am super excited to stay on task.  I got a lot of craft time on Wed.

I had the fabric done, but had to attach them to the burlap and glue them onto the jars.  The final product is on my S.C.R.A.P. Blogspot.  

Sorry for the bad photo - took it before 5am this morning.

I'm thrilled to say I'm using fabric scraps that a wonderful lady mailed me years ago.  I am still using them for gifting.  I also used the embroidery floss for the gifts, which I won from a blog giveaway years ago.  I have more ideas using the scrap fabric as well.  

I finished this UFO as well.  They are tucked away in the right box for next Christmas or gift giving.

I am still working on the spool ornaments, but hope to have them completely done today.  We'll see.  I'm tackling cleaning and purging again.

Pumpkin Soup ~ Tidbits

I have never made pumpkin soup of any sort, so this year I did. I roasted one entire pumpkin for this soup. 

The recipe in my "pile" or "stash" called for potatoes.  I did some searching, and found there are so many ways to make this soup.

I didn't follow the pumpkin and red lentil soup recipe I found online, but adjusted it to what I had.  I seasoned it with home canned hot sauce and garlic both fresh (heated with the onion) and some garlic powder to add more flavor.

 I served it with a dollop of sour cream, and freshly chopped parsley.  Some of it is going in the freezer.  The hens are happy gals too.  They are getting the pumpkin "guts" for a treat.

The taste test with the soup?

Delicious!   I used 2 carrots and 2 potatoes in my soup, as well as the pumpkin.

Guess what arrived at the library?

Happy Homemaker Monday

I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom today.  Sunday we fried.  It was 92°F with a heat index of 99°F.  We literally didn't go outside much at all.  Hubby and I hit the garden work first, but it was too hot and humid to be outside.  We even said no to a motorcycle ride to get ice cream.  It was that hot. 

Today, rain is once again in the forecast, and we may actually get some this time.  It's to rain all day, so first on the to-do list is work on the green beans in the garden.  If I can resurrect the second row, we plan to mow down the last two and replant.

On the breakfast plate. . .
Eggs, toast with home canned jam, coffee


The weather outside is . . .
It's hot and humid, and we are praying we finally get rain.


On my reading pile . . .
Herbal books from the library.


On the TV . . .
McCleod's Daughters


On the menu . . .
-organic roast, carrots, potatoes and onion
-stuffed shells, steamed broccoli
-chicken with home canned hot pepper mustard sauce, wild rice and beets
-egg salad sandwiches
-leftovers

On the weekly to-do list . . .
-work in the green beans in the garden
-dishes
-floors
-laundry
-shampoo half of the hallway carpet
-hang the last new curtain in the front room
-wash the front door curtain and wash down window and door
-dinner prep
-make a batch of homemade baking mix
-make homemade taco mix
-work on purging more books


What I am crocheting, knitting, sewing or creating. . .
Two lapghans, another set crocheted ice pop holders, and a knitted dishcloth


New recipe I tried . . .

Whiskey Balls.  They are pretty good too.  I adjusted a recipe from my Maker's Mark cookbook.  I used non-gmo organic chocolate crisp rice cereal, and organic ingredients.  You can't find a non-gmo, organic marshmallow whip, but you can make it homemade.  I found a recipe online at Attainable Sustainable.

Whiskey Balls

1 cup organic non-gmo chocolate chips
7 oz. marshmallow fluff (see recipe link above)
2-3 Tbsp. whiskey
3 cups organic crisp rice cereal
1/2 cup organic coconut
3/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Melt chocolate, let cool but not harden.  Mix in the marshmallow and whiskey.  Add remaining ingredients.  Form into 1 inch balls and chill.  I used my large cooking scoop and it worked great.  They were larger, so next time for a larger Christmas crowd, I'll use the smaller and probably get about 5 dozen.

Next on the try it list are some serviceberry recipes.


From the camera . . .

I think my auracanas think it's Christmas in July.  I have gotten one of their eggs since last Christmas.

We had 3 visits in one day from this hummingbird.  It has a red chest.

In one day, a chickadee built a nest in one of my hanging pots.  He paid me a visit this morning too.  


Looking forward to. . .
Rain.

The Case of Missing Spoons

It's Monday cleaning day, and although I typically don't get it all done, I get a good majority of it done.  I look forward to sitting, crocheting and sipping hot tea later.  

It looks like I'll be needing boots to put my bedding out on the clothesline today.

Made another batch of homemade taco seasoning mix, and plan to make taco salads tonight.

Taco Seasoning Mix

1/4 cup dried onion flakes

4 tsp. cornstarch

2 Tbsp. salt

3 tsp. cumin

4 Tbsp. chili powder

1 1/2 tsp. oregano

3 tsp. dried minced garlic

3 tsp. crushed hot red pepper flakes

2 tsp. beef bouillon

Mix ingredients and store in airtight container.  

2 Tbsp. = 1 package

I do use whatever dried herbs I have from the herb gardens I grow, such as oregano.  Last year I attempted to grow cumin, but the heavy rains killed off my plants.  I will attempt it again this year.  Now that I have my dehydrator, I can dry my home grown onions and garlic too.

My bread crumbs are stored nicely in a canning jar.  I hope to dehydrate more today.

If no one in the house can find a spoon to eat breakfast this morning, it's because my 10 year-old put them under everyone's pillows last night.  Her school principal once told them that if they put ice cubes in the toilet and put a spoon under their pillow, that school would cancel.  It did cancel today.   

Salsa Party ~It's Fiesta Time ~ Preserving Continues

We had a Salsa Party, to taste all four of the salsa recipes I canned this year.  The Peach Salsa recipe used a small amount of honey. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Like a dork, I took a huge bag of crochet projects with me to the craft show last Saturday.  Guess what I did?  I forgot to bring a hook.  I had zero hooks and my afghan hook was still at home.  I had one "crochet emergency kit" in the truck (woohoo!), so I at least had an "H" hook to work on a lapghan.

Speaking of hooks, the ones that light up do not work well using cotton yarn.  To be honest, I like the neck lamp better than the light up hooks. I get more light that way.  However I used them to crochet dark yarn and they worked great too. Just an update.

We started with the coop repair Sunday morning, only to find out the damage was more extensive than we thought.  We'll be buying another roll of wire, and saving our pennies to build a new coop (out of the barn) next year. It's just time.  Chicken wire is not working out and we could use the barn space anyway.  We need to re-roof the barn next year if we want to keep the barn from deteriorating as well.  I was just tired of fighting predators and it's just time to build a more secure coop.

Speaking of chickens, "Cluck Norris" has passed on and into rooster heaven (sad face).  However, I am not lacking in roosters.  One lucky gent went from the rooster pen and in with the ladies.  I'll be giving him a name soon.

We cut wood for more than 3 hours, and only have one large chunk left to cut and split now.  I racked up 6000 steps just splitting and hauling wood.  Whew!    Oh our achy bodies....

I put more sets up for sale on my other blog.  All proceeds go to building us a new coop.  

Today I'm joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.



The weather outside is . . . 
High of 52°F and raining.  Tomorrow the temps dip again.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Taco breakfast egg muffins.  

I just googled for a recipe, adjusted it with home canned zucchini salsa, organic beef and homemade taco mix, and organic cheese.  Next batch will have some sort of greens in them, but otherwise delicious.


As I look outside my window . . .
It's dark, cloudy and still raining.


Right now I am . . .
Starting the dishes and laundry


As I look around the house . . .
Oh my, I have to put the craft totes away, tidy up the living room and start a fire.



On the to-do list . . .
Dishes
Make breakfast egg muffins
Clean out fridge
Install new drip bowls on stove top
Put trash out
Put Christmas tree up
Repair coop
Crochet



On this week's to-do list . . .
-can applesauce
-put up Christmas decor
-clean up my bedroom (it's a total disaster of yarn)
-freeze homemade mushroom soup
-place online order for daughter's birthday gifts and Hubby's anniversary gifts


On the menu this week . . .
Have no clue


Currently reading . . . 
Nothing
On the TV . . .
Movies from the library


What I am creating at the moment . . .
A headband/ear warmer that is an order I got, and one daughter's scarf.  Also, our youngest daughter asked me to whip up something to gift her two Cosmetology teachers.  I have a pattern for something cute.  Cross you fingers I get them made.


Favorite photo from the camera . . .

Yesterday's sunrise.

Prayers . . .
No special request at this time

Taco Pasta ~ Popcorn Topping

There have been days when I just think ice cream sounds good for dinner, and I don't want to cook.  However, one night I threw together a pasta dinner with what was on hand (too hot to hit the grocery store for restocking).

We still have some corn and beets in the freezer, so veggies are still supplying us, but I had to be creative with the pasta dish.

Mexican Chicken

Years ago, we discovered a recipe that was a family favorite.  However, it contains three cans of condensed cream of chicken soup and one of celery soup.  Needless to day, I have not made it in many, many years.

Yesterday I made the recipe, and used homemade soups, organic chicken, and organic tortilla chips (which were made with non-gmo oils, believe it or not).  It took a few days to make my soups ahead of time, but it was worth it. 

Here is the recipe.  

What's Cookin'? ~ Tips ~ New Recipe

Tip 1:  I found another way to use leftover (when there is any) whiskey butterscotch sauce.  Bake a cinnamon/brown sugar coffee cake, and drizzle some on 10 minutes before it comes out of the oven.

I baked the coffee cake, but no sauce to be found (sad face). 

Tip 2:  I opened a jar of home canned hot sauce to make jalapeno poppers, but need to use the rest up before I forget I opened it.  I found that adding home canned hot sauce to greens is a wonderful way to flavor them up.  I used them on spinach recently.

We are short on eggs.  The colder weather has slowed production down, but no need to panic (I told myself).  I had a good supply of ingredients to make a crock pot of steel cut oats (with apples, walnuts and raisins).

Happy Homemaker Monday

Today I am joining Happy Homemaker Monday with Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.  It's sort of a strange Monday for us here.  One, two kids are at sleepovers because school is closed today for President's Day.  Two, Hubby is home too. Three, our Vet-Tech in training is home.  Our daily routine is about to be spiced up by spontaneous events. I hope you enjoy today's post.

Discombobulated

Honestly, today feels like Monday.  I feel sort of discombobulated due to everyone's schedules being wonky yesterday.

Two things happened that surprised me.  I don't even have photos.  Yikes.

One, I dressed for cutting wood, and as I was putting on head gear (to keep the wood chips out of my hair) Hubby said, "I going to go pick up R to help me cut wood."

"What?"

Operation "Garden" ~ Flower Seeds ~ Salsa Chicken

Last week, I told the kids it was "Operation Extreme Clean" and to not expect anything but cleaning the house.  This weekend?

"Operation Garden" if the weather cooperates.

I have officially started the gutting of the garden. The girls won't like me, but it needs to be worked on.  The barns may be next, so it's time to pull it all out.

 

It was very humid, and when I took my camera lens off yesterday, it immediately fogged up.  I have only gotten two hours out there, and much to do.  I only got 1/4 of the distance down the carrot row, beet row and green bean row.  I found many beets yet, and even carrots.  The carrots are no bigger than three inches in length (most are 2 inches or less), so I'm pulling them all out.  It will feed us a few meals, but won't be enough to freeze this year.  Some of the tops will go to Milo, our pet rabbit.

This is what all of the vegetable gardens look like.  Full of grass, thistle and various weeds.  Today the grass pulled easily, so I could find the dead plants to pull (or other surprises).  I am going to need to move my pea fence too, so that will determine where I plant my garlic next.  I can't move it to the south, because my asparagus is there.  I may move it completely to the new plot we are going to put in. 

 Lots and lots of weeds in those gardens.  Rain was due at 11am, so I stopped, but at noon, rain never arrived.  I should have worked another hour or two.

Homemade Gift Ideas for the Holidays

I went back through my blog recently, and compiled a post today to share many handmade gifts I made over the years.  Hopefully, you will find an idea here, or have one to share.

What I gifted in 2015:  Christmas 2015

Handmade Hand Lotion (they loved this!)  I ended up putting it in 4 oz. canning jars to gift.  I do suggest adding the preservative for gifting too.

Rat, thief, molting? Or just too cold?

We seem to have a situation in the chicken coop.  On October 21st of 2013, this is what we got from the coop:

Happy Homemaker Monday

Mother's Day this year was a bit on the rough side, but my wonderful family got me thru it.

First, we talked about my husband booking an appointment with Daughter E for a much needed haircut.  She was booked solid, so I texted and asked if she could make a special house call, considering Sunday is his only (and only) day off.

Second, we needed to be home at noon.  A lady was coming with her Dad to look at the pie safe, and she was out the door with it in minutes.  She loved it.  One piece of furniture sold and two more to go now.

My husband cleaned up the front porch, Daughter K helped put furniture on it, and the burn pile was finally burned down.

My husband, myself, and Daughter K drove to the cemetery to visit Mom.  I wasn't surprised to see that my previous flowers were gone (that was a terrible wind storm in March).  I will need to buy more for Grandma and Grandpa's now.

I have to say, I think this year was the best Mother's Day I've had in a long, long time.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather . . .

We are finally getting a week of warmer weather.  I'll be putting the plants out to harden (although we expect more rain).  We are starting to pull last year's carpets and plastic and get the tilling rolling.

As I look outside my window. . .

My porch needs hanging baskets.  It's on the shopping list.

Right now I am . . .

Finally washing a bed quilt to hang on the clothesline.

Thinking and pondering . . . 

We are still looking to hire help for the front room, but until then, I need to go upstairs and make a space for the treadmill, so that can be moved out of the way next weekend.

Oddly, my kids did not get me any flowers for Mother's Day, so I plan to make a trip to town and buy myself flowers for my birthday.

How I am feeling . . .

Good.  It took a few weeks, but I am finally on my husband's 12 hour work schedule and was up to enjoy coffee with him.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Broccoli/bacon breakfast casserole, coffee

On my reading pile . . .

I finally finished my current book!  I got reading time on the porch, while my husband replaced both window motors for Daughter K.  Both of her windows were not working.

On my TV . . .

Last movie was All Together Now.

On the menu . . .

-Lasagna stuffed chicken, home grown asparagus and steamed broccoli

-breakfast for dinner

-something with stew beef, veggie

-flounder and a veggie

-try a new peanut butter pie recipe

-leftovers

Looking around the house . . .

It's getting there, but the kitchen is still not put back together.  I am doing my best, but this week will be garden work split up with kitchen work.  I need to paint more floor trim, so we can put it back in it's rightful place.

The to-do list . . .

-bake a breakfast

-check asparagus

-laundry

-pay a few bills

-buy chicken food

-paint in kitchen, paint floor trim

-shampoo living room (I'll have to do this for Mom's furniture until we start tearing out the carpet)

-put sticky paper down on my kitchen keyboard tray

-clean old bike trunk with leather cleaner and put it up for sale

-make more homemade taco mix

-vacuum carpets

-

From the camera . . .

So happy to have grandkids for the day yesterday.

Prayers . . .

Our biker friend Aaron, who had hernia surgery, and had complications and was back in the hospital. Last I heard, he was still in the hospital.