Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

DIY Homemade Taco Seasoning is so easy and MUCH better than the store bought packets! {Brittany's Pantry}This is just a simple recipe I am sharing.  No grand story, no anecdotes.  Just a practical list of ingredients that you may use to replace the chemical laden alternative in the little pouches on the grocery store shelves.  But remember.  This will not taste like the salty packets you are used to, but rather will be smokey and peppery and straight up earthy flavor.  Enjoy the welcome contrast of the pure herbs and spices.

Two Years Ago: Basic Granola
Three Years Ago: Spiced Peach Jam & Stuffed Shells

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
This is a good list to start with.  Adjust quantities to suit your own tastes. I like to buy my spices in bulk and then transfer them to their own container. These are perfect for that! Easy to clean and should last forever!

4 T chili powder
2 T cumin
2 T paprika
2 T dried oregano
1 T onion powder
1 T garlic powder
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.  Add 3 level tablespoonfuls of the mix and 1/2 c of water to 1 lb of ground beef or turkey that has been cooked with 1/2 diced onion.  Stir well and let simmer a bit for the spices to rehydrate, distribute, and the water to evaporate.  Taste for seasoning and add salt if needed.

Grilled Steak W/Rosemary & Dijon I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: When it comes to steak, I am kind of a purist.  I know that my past grilled beef recipes kind of contradict that, but honestly, as my Father’s daughter, I like it grilled with salt and pepper.  So much that 99.9 percent of the times I order steak at a restaurant, I double check that they aren’t going to fancify (yes, that is a real food word…) my meat.  I like to actually taste the beef itself and that can be difficult when it is smothered in too sweet sauces, salty spice mixes, or *gasp* God forbid, cheese!  Cheese and beef have a place in this world people, but that is only on a homemade roll and preferably with the Rocky statue in the background.  Read: Philadelphia.

But!  I was throwing dinner together recently and was looking for a way to give my bea-U-tiful ribeyes a bit of a creative boost in preparation for this Labor Day weekend.  Now, of course, when it comes to steak, a ribeye is about as good as it gets.  Lots of fat marbled through, i.e. flavor galore, and a moderately tender cut if it is cooked around medium rare.  Typically, it is one of my favorite steaks.  I decided to experiment with some leftover herbs (leftovers-the great catalyst to wonderful creations) and struck gold.

Mustard and herb gold, that is!  Just a few ingredients gives this steak an earthy boost that doesn’t mask, but enhances the wonderful beefy taste of the meat.  It doesn’t do it with salt or super strong sauces.  It just simply tastes like the best steak you have ever had.  Spectacular.  I would even go so far as to say that I would have no reservations about serving this to my fellow steak purist Dad.  It is that good.  The perfect example of how simple dishes can be the best. No frills required.
Grilled Steak W/Rosemary & DijonTwo Years Ago: Panzanella Salad
Three Years Ago: Dippin’ Biscuits

Grilled Ribeye W/Rosemary & Dijon
Serve this with roasted potatoes and an enormous salad piled high with garden tomatoes and tangy vinaigrette.  A slice or two of watermelon wouldn’t hurt anything either.

4 ribeye or T-bone steaks
1 T dijon mustard
4 cloves minced garlic
1/4 c extra virgin olive oil
2 T fresh rosemary leaves, removed from stems, but left whole
1 tsp kosher salt
lots of black pepper-to taste

Combine all ingredients in a large zip-top bag, or bowl, tossing over and over to make sure that the meat is evenly coated.  Let marinate for 2 hours, turning the steaks occasionally to redistribute the rosemary.  When ready to grill, remove the large sprigs of herbs (they will  burn) and grill over direct, medium high heat.  Sear one side for 3-4 minutes for steaks that are at least 1 inch thick, a minute less of they are a bit thinner.  Turn once, searing the other side for another 3 minutes, or until medium rare.  Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

Banana Soft Serve Sundaes

Banana Soft Serve SundaesI am taking a tiny step away from my Back To School Series and instead, have taken a giant leap toward a post that can be filed under the Holy Swiss Cheese It Is Freaking Hot Outside category.

My daughter’s school has been let out early due to heat for most of this week.  Old buildings plus a heat index over 100 equals overheated and red faced children.  Even though we have been back to school for a few weeks now, and Labor Day (read: unofficial beginning of fall) is just around the corner, we are deep in the hot and steamy throws of a heat wave.  Yuck.  We have played in the sprinkler, splashed in a kiddie pool, eaten popsicles, hunkered down in the air conditioning and watched Looney Tunes, but we were still in the need for something refreshing and cool.

Enter the worlds most easy ice cream!  Although it isn’t actually ice cream at all.  And yes!  I know I know I know.  This recipe has been circling the web for forEVER now.  This dish is so popular it is even printed on the stickers attached to the bananas themselves.

But its hot.  Really hot.  And on the off chance that you have never seen this before, I am posting it so that you too can benefit from its healthy, yet temperature reducing properties.  Cold, creamy, heart healthy, and delicious.  Just what we all need when its 102 in the shade.

And congratulations to Daria from PA for winning the honey giveaway!
Banana Soft Serve Banana Soft Serve SundaesOne Year Ago: Roasted Tomato Pasta
Two Years Ago: Caramelized Onion Dip

Banana Soft Serve Sundaes

4 or 5 bananas, nice and ripe

Toppings-chocolate chips, peanuts, chocolate sauce, macadamia nuts, almonds, caramel sauce, toasted coconut, honey, cinnamon, walnuts, a drizzle of rum, chopped strawberries, or anything else that sounds good with bananas!

Peel the bananas and break them into smaller chunks and freeze until firm.  Dump them into the bowl of a food processor and whiz up for several minutes until completely smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl so that everything gets processed.  Enjoy immediately and top with whatever floats your boat.  Or freeze in an airtight container for later!