Taco Thursday!

Posted on October 15, 2015 by thesweetlifesugarfree

It really could be any day of the week, but one thing is for sure – it is the kids’ favorite dinner without a doubt.

Going back to what we seem to bring up over and over again…the dreaded packaged foods! How many of you use the little packet of taco seasoning you find on the grocery store shelves? You are not alone – I used to be one of them too. It is so easy to brown some ground meat, throw a packet in with a little water, simmer, and call it dinner!

Have you ever looked at the ingredients? You will find things like maltodextrin, potatoes starch, sugar, and yellow corn flour along with a lot of other things I can’t even try to pronounce.

What if I told you it could still be that easy, but so much better – and healthier without all the preservatives and seasonings that are who knows how old? Better? You bet!

I have blended a combination of spices that will wake up your senses and make the healthiest best tasting tacos ever!

First off, I buy jar and bulk spices just depending on where I am when I need them. If you find yourself somewhere with bulk spices (Central Market, Whole Foods, Sprouts all have them) – buy them! They are fresher, easier to measure and a much better buy – a bargain in fact! You can buy what you need, or buy a little extra. Label them (name and date) with a Sharpie and discard after a year and refresh. Fresh spices make all the difference in your recipes! They don’t necessarily go bad, but they do lose a lot of flavor over time.

For the spices, you will need:

12 TBSP Chili Powder (as fresh as you can find)

6 TBSP Onion Powder

2 TBSP Pink Himalayan Salt

8 tsp Paprika

8 tsp Garlic Powder

4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

6 tsp Ground Cumin

4 tsp Dried Oregano

Gather all your spices, mix well, and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

For the tacos:

We are a grass-fed beef family so I have the butcher package all of our ground meat in 3 pound portions for our family of 5. This gives us plenty for a couple of dinners and lunches. This is a meal that saves well so make extra!

Brown 3 lb ground meat over medium heat.

Add one chopped onion and 5-6 cloves of minced garlic:

Now, most people at this stage drain the fat, but we add our healthy fat – Kerrygold of course. You could add bacon grease as well. Grass-fed beef is super lean so you need to add a little grease.

Lastly, add in your seasoning to your liking. I used 6 TBSP of the seasoning mix above to the 3 pounds of meat and it was perfect for us!

Now, all you have to do is wash your lettuce and prepare your sides. My family likes guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and cheese. Queso and jalapeños are excellent as well!