Homemade Taco & Fajita Mixes (gf)

So I am assuming most of your spice cupboards look a little like this...

Maybe one shelf full of spices.

And maybe some of you have a second shelf...

Yeah, mine is more than two shelves full, about 3 to 4 jars deep.

Now, I usually do not have this many spices, but moving twice in 4 months and having things MIB (missing in boxes) we have many duplicates of spices.  Too many spices in my cupboard means less room for other things, plus I have to spend tons of time shifting through all of the mess trying to find the one stinking spice I want.  Which therefore led to the following.

We don't go out to eat very often (ie too expensive, dining with a 2 year old in public, no thank you, etc) plus we haven't exactly connected with many local restaurants around here.  I've come to realize two California kids living in the South is a little bit of a disaster.  I order something expecting one thing and have been sorely disappointed when it is something entirely different.  Sorry, ranting.  Any who... so I started doing make-your- own- take- out night.  It's actually a lot of fun and worth the extra effort it may take.  I get to have a date night without worrying about whether my little one is disturbing others with her antics.  

Chips and Blender Salsa

Horchata (a rice-milk drink, love it!)

Our Mexican make-your-own-take-out spread.  You'll notice some guacamole on the table.  That's just for the hubby, none for me and my one food allergy.  Lame huh?

So I planned to make fajitas for this dinner and, low and behold, when I went to make it, no faijta mixes.  Dinner crises!  I was totally craving fajitas so I was a little on edge.  Thank goodness for Google.  I found a mix I was willing to try.  Tried it, liked it, made more of it to have on hand.  Plus it helps me make it through this vast array of spices.  Perfect!  And later when I finished off my taco seasoning I decided to do the same thing.  Super awesome!

Taco seasoning (top) and fajita seasoning (bottom)

Fajita seasoning mix (gf)

Note: Makes approx. 13 Tbsp or about 4 store bought packages

4 Tbsp cornstarch

3 Tbsp chili powder

2 tsp salt

4 tsp paprika

4 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp chicken bouillon or 3 crushed chicken bouillon cubes

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp cumin

Put all ingredients into a mason jar and shake to mix.  Two and a half to three tablespoons of the mix is about equal to a store bought package.  I usually use 3 heaping Tbsp per 1lb of meat.  

Taco seasoning mix (gf)

Note: Makes approx. 13 Tbsp or about 4 store bought packages

4 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/4 - 1/2 tsp ground red pepper (depending on how much heat you want)

1 tsp dried oregano

2 tsp paprika

6 tsp cumin

4 tsp sea salt

4 tsp black pepper

Put all ingredients into a mason jar and shake to mix.  Approximately 3 Tbsp of mix equals one store bought package.  I usually use 3 heaping Tbsp per 1lb of meat.  

Check out the new blog at jonesinfortaste.com

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Annie's Eats- Freezer meals

Are you on Pinterest?  I am and I love it.  I've only been on for a little over a week but it is so fun to find so many great ideas all in one place.  Today I saw a pin that my friend had about freezer meals so I clicked and checked it out.  Talk about hitting a goldmine!  With this little one being less than 7 weeks away I've really been wanting to stock up on food.  Not to mention it's getting harder and harder to have the motivation to cook now.  My mom will be here for almost a month but it doesn't hurt to have meals on hand so that we can enjoy having her with us instead of her just taking care of us.  I diverge slightly, back to Annie's Eats.

In forty minutes of looking at her site I made a list of 13 recipes I want to try- like now.  That almost never happens.  Maybe it was just the thread I was on but I was so pumped.  I want to go cook right now!  For hours!  But I need to eat lunch first before we started an insane amount of cooking.  Again, I diverge.  Her pictures are gorgeous and she loves to make everything from scratch much like I do!  I even sent her a note letting her know how much I love her blog.  I never do that!  If you aren't convinced yet go check out her freezer food post now and see how long you spend there.



Mini Meatball Sliders with Basil Pesto from Annie's Eats

Okay, getting off my soap box.  Its time for me to stop salivating and start feeding my hungry belly (and that growing baby)!