Fajita Seasoning Mix Recipe

Feb

2012

Fajita Seasoning Mix Recipe

One of our staple meals in Fajitas. They are a really simple meal – and most times we used left over meat for our fajitas. We have used chicken, steak and even turkey for our fajitas. For me, the secret to the fajita is in the seasoning. I use a simple mixture of spices, adapted from a recipe I found on food.com.

The next time you are thinking about making fajitas, try making your own seasoning. I promise you won’t go back to the prepackaged. Remember, it is incredibly forgiving- so try adding your own twist.

Fajita Seasoning Mix

1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon cumin

Mix all ingredients together.

To use:

Coat your meat and vegetables lightly with olive oil - then coat with the dry mix to prepare for cooking. Tip: for your fajitas shells - dip them in water before you place them in the hot pan or grill, it acts like a steamer and keeps the shells soft. (don’t use this tip if you microwave, use the oven etc).

Filed Under: Beef, Cooking, Main Dish, Poultry, Recipes Tagged With: recipe

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Recipe: Slow Cooked Flank Steak

Feb

2012

As many of you already know, I love to use my slow cooker. I love when I can find a recipe that is easy, quick and well, cheaper than most steaks. Flank steak is a relatively inexpensive cut of meat for the quality. If you cook it right, it can be amazingly tender and juicy.

This recipe adds some kicked up flavor buy using green chilies or you can even use jalapeños to give it a nice zesty flavor.

I hope you are enjoying the recipe series!

You can check out the directions for the delicious Flank Steak here.

Filed Under: Beef, Cooking, Main Dish, Recipes, Slow Cooker

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One Dish Meal: Cheesy Beans & Rice Recipe

Feb

2012

Here is another one of my favorite Weeknight Recipes!

There are some weeknights when dinners are an after thought. I try to meal plan, but it doesn’t always happen. I have some items that I always keep in the house – for the nights when I don’t have a plan. This recipe includes these stockpile items and is super quick to make. I have a rice maker, which makes it even easier to make.

Did I mention that this is one dish meal?

This beans and rice recipe is so easy and versatile – you can make it as a side dish or as a main dish. It is perfect for a cold winter day. It has just enough kick to please your taste buds!

So here is what you need to make this one:

4oz of VELVEETA®
3 Cups of cooked white or brown rice
2 10 oz Can Ro*Tel® Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
1 small Can of Red Kidney Beans (drain)
1 small Can of Black Beans (drained)
1 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 small Can of Pinto Beans (drained)
optional – ground beef or grilled chicken

Combine all ingredients in pot. Do not drain Ro*Tel® Diced Tomatoes, include all contents of the can. Mix all ingredients and cook on med heat for 20 minutes and VELVEETA® is fully melted. Stir frequently. Optional – add beef or chicken to make a one dish meal. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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Filed Under: Beans, Beef, Cooking, Main Dish, Pasta & Rice, Recipes, Vegetarian Tagged With: cooking, Recipes

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Recipe: Easy Beef, Rice & Beans

Feb

2011

Welcome to my weekly recipe series. I hope these recipes will inspire you to try new meals. I am by no means a gourmet cook — heck, most of the time I don’t use a measuring tools. I just enjoying cooking for my boys and trying new recipes. Remember, substitute items you dislike — this is just a baseline to give you ideas. You cannot mess it up!

Ingredients:

3/4 -1 lb of ground beef
1 can Red Beans ( I prefer Goya)
1 can Black Beans
1 can Kidney Beans
4-5 cups of cooked rice
1/2 cup beef broth
1 large can of diced tomatoes including juices(i like to use the ones with peppers/onions already mixed in)
1 diced green pepper
1 diced small onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
pinch of cayenne pepper
fresh cilantro
shredded cheddar if desired

Brown Ground Beef and drain. Add all items except rice into crockpot. Stir. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Stir every few hours {if you can}. Add precooked rice to crockpot after cooking for 4 -6 hours on low. Simmer for an hour or so. Add season to taste. Serve Garnished with cheddar cheese and cilantro (if you would like).

It was recipe was inspired by an idea from Saving & Giving.

Filed Under: Beans, Beef, Cooking, Main Dish, Pasta & Rice, Recipes Tagged With: Hot Deals

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Chili and Rice Recipe

Jan

2010

This recipe is easy to make and stretches a long way. You can adjust how spicy it is to your liking.

Ingredients

1lb. Ground Beef
3 tablespoons Chili Powder
1 tablespoon of Tumeric
1 teaspoon onion salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic
1/2 small onion, diced
2 12-15 oz cans kidney beans
3 cups of rice
1 can tomato sauce
1 24-28oz Mexican Diced Tomatoes
Hershey Cocoa Powder
1/4 cup of shredded cheese

1. Brown Ground Beef with onions and drain.

2. Put tomatoes, tomato sauce and kidney beans in a large pot over medium heat.

3. Add all spices and pressed garlic to the beans and tomatoes.

4. Add beef and stir until spices are mixed in. Simmer on medium, stirring frequently for 25 minutes.

5. Prepare Rice as per package. I use my Cuisinart rice cooker.. perfect rice every time!

6. Add one heaping teaspoon of unsweeted Cocoa powder to the Chili.

7. Serve chili over rice. Garnish with a sprinkle of cheese and parsley.

Filed Under: 365 in 365, Beef, Cooking, Pasta & Rice, Recipes, Soups, Stews & Chilies

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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

Jan

2010

I am not a big fan of Hamburger Helper from the box. However, my son likes it. This is my compromise! It is super easy and the kiddos love it.

Ingredients:

8 oz of Elbow Macaroni
1 cup Shredded Four Cheese
1 Can of condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
3/4 can of water (using mushroom soup can)
3/4 lb ground beef

1. Boil pasta according to package.

2. Brown ground beef and drain.

3. Mix ground beef, mushroom soup, water and cheese in baking dish, reserve 1/4 cup of cheese.

4. Mix macaroni into beef mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

5. Heat on 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until warm throughout and cheese melted.

Filed Under: 365 in 365, Beef, Cooking, Main Dish, Pasta & Rice, Recipes Tagged With: Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

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Angry Taco Salad Recipe

Jan

2010

By: Julie

www.angryjuliemonday.com

This is a quick and easy recipe submitted by Julie from Angry Julie Monday. It is very versatile and great for using up leftovers!

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef (you can use more than one pound, if you want)
1 package of taco seasoning mix
1 can of pinto beans
lettuce shreds (you can shred yourself, but we are lazy and buy pre-shredded)
2 cups of shredded cheese (we use the pre-shredded Mexican style)
Catalina Salad Dressing
Tortilla Chips, Corn Chips, or Doritos-style chips

Optional Ingredients for Your Own Preference:

Chopped Tomatoes
Chopped Green Onions
Salsa
Ranch Dressing instead of Catalina
Thousand Island instead of Catalina

1. Brown ground beef and drain. Stir in taco seasoning mix.

2. Add pinto beans to beef (which has already been seasoned with the mix). Put on lid to skillet and let beef and bean mix simmer for 10-15 minutes, depending on how soupy the mixture is.

3. Set beef and bean mixture aside to cool.

4. Mix remaining ingredients in large bowl.

5. Add catalina dressing or dressing of your choice.

Filed Under: 365 in 365, Beef, Cooking, Recipes, Salads Tagged With: Taco Salad Recipe

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Easy Beef Stew Recipe

Jan

2010

Tonight’s recipe is using fairly inexpensive recipe to make a quick beef stew. The beef is super tender after 8 hours in a crock pot!

victims3

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb Beef Cubes – Frozen
1 box of Honey Glazed Carrots
4 medium sized potatoes
1 red onion (or the onion your prefer)
1 mixed seasoning – (we grow our own herbs and then freeze them for future use – in this particular recipe I used Thyme, Dill and Basil) – you can use a dried Italian Seasoning
1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
Either 3/4 cup of water or beef broth
Salt
Pepper
1 Crockpot
Optional Ingredient Not Show Here: Celery

1. Put one can of cream of mushroom soup into crock pot. Fill mushroom soup can half way with water or beef stock and add to to crock pot. Stir to mix. Turn on crockpot.

onion

2. Chop Red onion and add to Crock pot. Stir to mix in with soup. It should look a little something like this .

soup

3. Add frozen carrots to the soup and onions. Mix. (You can use fresh carrots if you choose, but this makes it very easy)

poto1

4. Chop potatoes. Here is where you recipe can vary. I like to make this as simple as possible. I put my potatoes in right away. I like my potatoes very soft. Some people don’t. If you prefer your potatoes firmer, wait til the last 2 hours to put your potatoes in. Add potatoes now or later to crock pot.

crock

5. Add seasoning to crock pot. If you have a premixed dried Italian seasoning, that works well. Mix well.

crok-2

6. Add frozen beef cubes to the crock pot. (Your beef cubes do not have to be frozen. I buy alot of meat in bulk and freeze- and they work well in recipes like these frozen. Feel free to use fresh beef cubes as well!) Add 3/4 water or beef broth and cover beef with soup mixture. Add salt and pepper.

7. Cook on High for 6 hours or Low for 8-10 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste when finished.

Filed Under: Beef, Cooking, Main Dish, Recipes Tagged With: Recipes, Weis

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Cream Cheese Rigatoni

Sep

2009

If you haven’t noticed, I like to cook simple, hearty one dish meals. This is a easy to make meal. It is rich and fulls you up fast. It is also inexpensive to make!

Items not shown: egg and olive oil

The Victims

1lb of Rigatoni Pasta
1 lb of ground beef (my burger was still frozen in the picture)
1 jar of seasoned spaghetti sauce
1 tablespoon Parsley
1 cup sour cream
1 cup softened cream cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. Cook pasta according to directions on package or until al dente; drain.

3. Brown beef in skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Season with salt. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.If you like, you may add onion or garlic if to suite your palette.

4. In a bowl, mix together sour cream, egg and cream cheese. I prefer to use my Kitchen Aid because it makes it nice and fluffy.

5. Stir in spaghetti sauce with the cheese mixture. (You will want to use as seasoned spaghetti sauce. I used a garlic, basil, oregano. If you are using a plain marinara, you can season it) Do not use mixed for this, hand stir. Add in 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella. Stir in ground beef. Mix together.

6. Place pasta in casserole in dish. Mix cheese/sauce mixture in casserole dish with pasta. Sprinkle cheese on top and sprinkle parsley on top. Cook for 25-35 in preheated oven until cheese is bubbly.