Tacos Tradition

When I recall favorite memories of my mom, I remember cooking together, even before I started kindergarten.

She was a master at gardening, canning, constructing meatloaf and making cinnamon bacon — the leftover pieces of pie crust baked with cinnamon and sugar. Another one of her masterpieces? Tacos!

Sometime during my teen years, Mom started adding a can of refried beans to the taco meat. My brother and I balked at first, and then we fell in love.

When I learned my husband and the girls liked the combo, too, I kept the family tradition. Although I'm not big on "hiding foods," it's the only way I can get Kid Chef to eat beans.

Try it. It's so easy!

Cook the meat. Then season and simmer for five minutes. Add a can of refried beans and simmer for five to 10 more minutes, stirring occasionally. See what you think. Ignore the seasoning packet. Wait until the beans have warmed to decide whether to add water. Too much water + beans = runny tacos.

I've been experimenting lately with homemade seasonings. After reading the labels of pre-packaged seasonings, I wanted to avoid MSG, unnecessary preservatives and artificial colorings and flavors.

Here's a recipe for taco seasoning I found at allrecipes.com. I usually quadruple the recipe to save time. I add 2 tablespoons of seasoning to 1 pound ground beef (and the beans, of course).

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Mix together in a small bowl. Batch makes almost 3 tablespoons.
2. Store in an airtight container until use.
3. Season 1 pound of meat with 2 tablespoons seasoning. Add more if desired.

I hope this Mother's Day brings back warm memories and the opportunity to create more!

Until next time,
Tricia

P.S. Check out the taco holder in the photo. I bought a set at a close-out store 11 years ago. My hubby thought they were the silliest kitchen gadgets he'd ever seen. (He's no longer laughing!) If you see any, snag 'em! They're quite an invention, especially for tiny hands.

P.S.S. Don't worry, Mom. I'm still making you steak this weekend. Love you!