If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

If you do stuff, stuff gets done.......

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

taco seasoning, some cooking, grands and what's slowed me down

Taco Seasoning  I've been making this for at least 10 years and have blogged about it a number of times but it is good enough to keep talking about it.  And some of you sweet readers asked about it.
This recipe is from AllRecipes.Com and its called Taco Seasoning 1.   The original link is at the beginning in blue.
My spices are quite an assortment, aren't they?  Some are from Aldi, some from Dollar Tree and some from the military commissary.  About most things,  I am not too brand picky.  

I make the taco seasoning just like the recipe except I use a lot less black pepper.
On AllRecipes,  the recipe is just for one batch, like 1 pouch from the store.  You can multiple the recipe on their site to however many servings you like.  Mine is multiplied to 10 I think.  
  
I use about 1 heaping Tablespoon for each pound of meat

This funnel belonged to my husband's granddad and I use it every time I put ingredients in jars.  
I made a double batch (20 pouches worth for our pantry) and I made a batch for our daughter while I had the ingredients out  
It looks like a sand painting before the jar gets shook to mix it all up.  

Several years ago, I put this taco seasoning in little jars and gave it to our local friends as Christmas gifts.  It was very popular.  


There is nothing left growing in my husband's garden except an assortment of pepper plants.  
I didn't take a before picture but he filled up a small bucket with jalapenos, green chilis and bell peppers Monday. 
I sliced the jalapenos (wearing gloves) and put them in a jar with vinegar and sugar cooked together to make candied jalapenos.  I like them on top of a cracker spread with cream cheese. 
My husband roasted the chilis on the grill, then I peeled and seeded them and I put them cups in the freezer for Mexican dishes. 
The bell peppers were sliced, frozen on a cookie sheet and then put in a freezer bag for fajitas.  
It was a lot of work but I'm glad its done and I know will enjoy this batch of peppers all winter.  


We helped with a cookout at our church on Sunday.  I made a couple desserts and this potato salad based on this recipe from Tammys Kitchen Moms Potato Salad
I did use change it a bit and just used 1 T sugar and I topped it with deviled eggs,  like I saw somewhere else online.  We really liked this recipe,  it has mustard, mayo, vinegar and the sugar in the dressing and its tangy but just a little sweet.
Next time, I'll make enough eggs to completely cover the top.

I don't make a to do list every week but I did last week - I put to make an eye checkup appointment for me at the very top.  I even got a quick appointment and have had my checkup and ordered new glasses already.  

I'm still working on the 100 day sewing challenge from Patsy's A Working Pantry 
I'm wearing my first attempt at the Cadence top from LoveNotions.com.
It is made just like a traditional tshirt except it is sized for woven fabric that doesn't stretch as opposed the stretchy knit fabric like other tops.
Mine is a little big but I still like it and plan to sew more with this pattern.

Grandchildren fun
We were gifted a big batch of moon sand and accessories from another family that had outgrown it.
We put it in a water table and keep it on the patio.
It's a lot of fun and all the accessories are fun to have.
See the ground?  That's why the moon sand is staying on the patio....

I'm still shopping at Dollar General with their digital coupons.  Last week,  the summer things were on clearance half off and buy 1 get 2 free.  These giant bubble kits were originally $6 but the sale marked 3 sets down to just $3 total.
They work amazingly well too!
One night the 3 oldest grandsons had a boys night sleepover here.  
They all still prefer to sleep on our  living room floor. 
The 3rd boy is not too visible in the photo but he's on the right under the black/red blanket.  



I have drank lots of diet soda most all my adult life but I frankly just got tired of lugging the stuff home from the store.
So, the last time I ran out,  I didn't buy more.
Its been 10 days and to say I've felt sluggish with diet soda is an understatement.  Apparently,  all that caffeine is what has mainly fueled me.
But as of today,  my 10th day diet soda free, I think I've finally turned a corner and felt more like myself.
I do drink hot tea in the morning and unsweet iced tea at some meals but my homemade tea must have a lot less caffeine that sodas.  I also put Crystal Light lemonade and fruit punch in some drink dispensers and I've enjoyed that when I wanted something sweet.  My husband likes it too.
I'm drinking lots of plain ice water too.
So,  I'm not perfect in my drink choices and but better than I was.

Now that I'm not feeling so sluggish,  I hope to get back to getting things done!

33 comments:

  1. The top you sewed is nice. I have cut out sodas except for the occasional 7-up. I drink mostly water or herbal tea. I can't have any caffiene, except chocolate. Me on coffee is not pretty--I am already hyperactive, and coffee just makes me more so. Thanks for the taco seasoning recipe, will try it soon.

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    1. Hi Evelyn, I almost wish I couldn't have caffeine, my body likes it too much.
      Hope you like the taco seasoning

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  2. Recently, I stopped drinking my precious diet Dr. Pepper, too. I have had times in my life when I didn't drink caffinated diet soda for years at a time, then went back to it in times of stress. (I figured if my troubles drove me to drink, it had better be soda!!!) So, it was time to cut back again. On our trip to Mexico in August (as a sponsor with a bunch of teens), I simply only took 3 or 4 cans with me, figuring it wouldn't be fair to be drinking soda unless all the kids could have some, too. So, I only drank 1 or 2 cans on the whole trip, and just didn't drink any more after the trip was over. I bought a bunch of diet soda in cups on the 17 hour trip we had on the last day because I was falling asleep, and got so super, super sick from it, I didn't have that much trouble making the decision to stay off of it. I was pretty tired the whole trip anyway, so think I worked through that with adrenaline. I will say it's harder than people think to have no big shots of caffine when you run a busy schedule. But, like you, I am feeling great now. I have been drinking some tea! Good job for doing that!

    I like the top. I hope to get some sewing done, but other things keep crowding it out. They are all good, though. Hopefully, things will calm down around here. Ha! (Don't even ask what I ended up doing today--but not what I planned at all.) It involved a kid who thought they chipped their tooth, a long drive to the dentist, thankfully good news there, a friend who needed a ride. And another ride. And so forth--all in the same area that the dentist was in--a place I never would have been today--I believe God was watching out for my friend today to have me there where I would never usually be on a day when her daughter really, really needed to get to the doctor. So, I'm not sorry one bit--just a bit behind on my chores.

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    1. Oh Becky, i guess you didn't have any choice but being on the road and in another country sounds terribly difficult to be going through the caffeine withdrawals. Bless you, I'm glad you got through it and are staying off it.

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  3. I like the top a lot! And I love the pictures you share of your grands. You are so lucky they live close enough to visit often!

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    1. Thank you Anne, I know it's a joy and blessing to see our grands so much.

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  4. I'v also made my own taco seasoning mix for years, both for economy as well as to avoid the salt in the packets.I use the TWGazette version. Salad looks so good; I think Tammy stopped blogging or do you know if she has a new blog? It's been years since there was an update on her site.
    Carol in CT

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    1. As far as I know, Tammy is not updating anywhere but she is keeping her site active. I'm glad it's still available. She has lots of good tips and recipes there

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  5. Thank you for sharing the taco seasoning--I need to try it. I gave seasoning salt last year as gifts (Paula Deens recipe) and everybody seemed to like it. Had several ask for the recipe.

    Hope your weather is cooling down. Ours got to 70s yesterday and looks to stay that way for now. Had been mid to high 90's las tfew weeks.

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    1. Hi Lana, I got your card yesterday, thank you but I wasn't expecting it.
      I think I'll look up that seasoning salt
      It's getting cooler here but still not chilly. It's actually really pleasant and we had 3 inches of rain last week.

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  6. How much of the seasoning would you use per lb of hamburger? We make a lot of chili from seasoning packs and I would love to try this. YOur new top is very pretty on you. I keep telling myself I'm going to stop buying soda for myself. I do drink caffeine free diet soda, but it can't be good for us... when I read the ingredients, it seems like a chemical storm. (but I do love it...lol) I have cut way back, but long for the day that I can just say no. The moon sand looks like fun!

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    1. Use about a heaping T per each pound of meat but it's also to taste.
      There are lots of chemicals in sodas. I liked the caffeine part so I never got into the caffeine free ones.
      If you get moon sand for your grands, they will like it and I like it too, when it's outdoors 😂

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  7. I stopped drinking diet soda about 4 or more years ago. It's amazing how bad it tastes to me now! My energy zapped too and I was introduced to coffee and decided to like it (they say it's good for you). So one cup or two a day and I'm good. Just cream no sugar.
    I've never heard of moon and sand. I'll look for it!

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    1. I would like the caffeine in coffee but is just never liked coffee taste.
      It's certainly the most convenient and economical source of caffeine.
      The moon sand is nice, and it makes me happy that it's outdoors and not getting tracked all over our home's interior.

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  8. Your new top looks great on you--I love the print!
    That potato/egg salad looks mouth-watering. I adore eggs/mustard in my potato salad--I'm going to have to give your version a try.

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    1. Thank you, I've worn it several times and it's comfortable too.

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  9. I first went with one diet coke a day because I could have drunk a whole 2L. bottle a day. Finally stopped about two months ago and have had three drinks since and now I hate the taste. Way too sweet. I drink hm iced tea or plain water. Much better for me.

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    1. Good for you! I don't plan to ever diet soda again. I'm pretty sure it will always taste good to me.

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  10. I would love to break my diet coke habit, but well........ Love the top, love the grandsons. Wish I was you.

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    1. Oh you're funny. My life is not perfect but I sure have plenty of blessings to count.

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  11. Your potato salad looks so good. And I always love seeing what you're doing with your grandkids - I bet they love coming to your house! Great news on breaking the diet pop habit. I did that many years ago (over 20) and now that it's well-known how unhealthy and dangerous that stuff is for you, I'm so glad I broke the habit a long time ago. I have one cup of coffee in the morning, then it's water all day for me. Once in awhile, I will have a glass of unsweetened black, green, or herbal iced tea (summer) or mug of hot tea in the winter.

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    1. Hi Melanie, all the grands do love coming here. And sometimes there is a scene when they do have to leave.
      I've heard for a long time that diet soda was bad, I just hadn't gave it up. But I'm really glad I have.

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  12. Nice work on the top! It's very pretty. Isn't it fun when things work?!

    I cut way down on my diet Pepsi habit. I limit it to going out, but there are some places that I just love their iced tea (unsweetened).
    Have you seen the mini packets of sugar free powdered drinks at Dollar General? They're only $1 and have Hawaiian Punch flavors, lemonade, etc. We always keep a small jar with those for when we want something different.

    I was just thinking it was time to start putting together my mixes for soups & chilis. They're so handy to have ready to go. When I have cooked ground beef in the freezer and the spices combined, I can throw together a crockpot of something in 5 minutes! And it tastes really yummy! I don't know how some people live without a crockpot!!

    Great pics of your handsome boys and I have to tell you that if I knew where you lived, I'd sneak in and STEAL that laundry stamp on your to-do list!!! ;) Can you tell me who makes it? I want one!!

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    1. Hi Debby, I have seen those packets at Dollar General and Dollar Tree. We have the Crystal Light version we bought at the commissary. Some of the CL packets even come with caffeine.
      I got that clothesline stamp years ago at a big stamp store in Branson. I looked up "clothesline rubber stamp" on EBay and saw 3 of them listed last week. And lots of other cute clothesline stamps too! Hope you find one

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  13. Thanks for sharing your taco season. Love my visits here.

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  14. Thanks for sharing your taco season. Love my visits here.

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    1. Thank you Mrs Chrissy, I enjoy your blog too ♥️

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  15. I love the blouse that you made. It looks so pretty and comfy. :) How nice of that family to gift you such fun things for the grandkids...they look like they are really enjoying it. :)

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    1. Yes Debbie, the moon sand is really fun but messy. And I think the messy part might be why it was passed to us 😂

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  16. Girl you are living a wonderful life! I like your new top and I think it fits in a very flattering way.

    Blessings,
    Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage

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    1. Yes Laura, life is really good right now and I am so thankful.

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