Foodie Friday: Ditch the Packet

We love our tacos around here! Probably once every week or two I make beef tacos on soft corn tortillas and we pile them with lettuce, tomatoes, diced avocado...all the good stuff. But they are made even BETTER by using homemade taco seasoning! You are probably thinking, "whatever, Jennifer....the stuff in the packet is so much easier." Yeah, probably, but it's more expensive than homemade and it is completely packed with too much salt. Once you try this mixture made with spices you probably already have in your pantry, you'll never go back! One recipe seasons 1 lb. of ground beef. You can also control the heat by using less crushed red pepper and control the smokiness by cutting back on the cumin. Completely your choice. Try it the original way one time, though. You'll love it. Happy Friday!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

from Allrecipes.com

• 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

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and sprinkle over 1 lb. ground beef. Add 2/3 cup of water and stir. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.