Tacos & Mexican Rice

Tacos

ingredients:

1 lb ground beef or chicken or turkey

2 1/2 tbsp. homemade taco seasoning (recipe to follow)

1 cup water

2 tbsp. cornstarch (or other thickener if you are corn sensitive)

directions:

1. Scramble fry the ground meat until no longer pink in large fry pan.

2. Add the taco seasoning.

3. Dissolve cornstarch in water then add to pan with meat and seasoning.

4. Simmer over low heat until sauce is thickened.

Homemade Taco Seasoning
source: adapted from Delish and Allrecipes

1/4 cup chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp paprika
2 tbsp ground cumin
3 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container.

Mexican Rice

ingredients:

1-28oz can of diced tomatoes

3 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 cups long grain rice

1 tbsp. oil

1 tbsp. cumin

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 medium onion, minced

directions:

1. In a large fry pan with a lid, heat the oil at medium heat then add the rice and stir gently until rice is golden.

2. Add garlic cloves, onion, cumin cooking for about one minute.  Then add canned tomatoes cooking until no liquid remains.

3. Add chicken broth and reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered until "boiling holes" appear (approimately 10-15 mins).  

4. Turn off heat, cover pan and let sit until all liquid is absorbed (approximately 15 mins).  Fluff with fork.