Taco Soup

Living in South Louisiana is like riding a weather roller coaster!  We are well into November and we're wearing shorts and running the A/C.  But, not long ago, we were in sweaters.  And from what I heard the weatherman say last night, we will be in heavy coats this weekend.  It's a never ending up and down experience.  You know how most people get to put the summer clothes away and bring out the winter clothes for the "season"?  Well, we can't do that here in South Louisiana.  We may need a sweater or perhaps a sundress.  Sometimes you can wear both on the same day!  You never know how the day is going to unfold.  This cartoon pretty much nails it:

When it does get cold around here, I love a steaming bowl of soup to warm up.  Who doesn't?  Here's a recipe that is easy to make and I usually have all the ingredients on hand.  The best part is that it's hearty, warm and delicious on a cold day.

TACO SOUP

1/2 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
1/2 an onion, chopped
1/2 a bell pepper, chopped
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 pkg taco seasoning
4 cups water
1 cup frozen corn

Brown the ground beef with the chopped onion and bell pepper.

Drain off any excess grease.  Add the tomatoes (including the juice), water, taco seasoning and beans.  Bring to a boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the corn.

Simmer, uncovered for 5 - 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

I serve it with a few tortilla chips (for the hubby) or with sour cream, chopped green onions and crushed tortilla chips (for me).

This soup really warms you up and fills you up.  The meat and beans are very filling.  It has a great flavor, thanks to the taco seasoning, and a bit of sweetness from the corn.  The sour cream adds creaminess (obviously) and the chips add crunch and that great tortilla flavor.

If you live in a part of the world where the cold is constant throughout the season, make this soup to warm your belly.  If you live in South Louisiana and time it just right, it might warm you up, too.  (Or it might make you sweat.  Oh well, just crank the A/C).

Taco Tuesday (on Monday)

Everyone loves Taco Tuesday!  And, yes, I know it's Monday.   Monday means Red Beans and Rice around these parts.  But, we're having tacos tonight and red beans tomorrow.  Confused yet?  OK, here's what happened:  I forgot to soak the red beans overnight.  I always soak the beans on Sunday night so I can put them in the crock pot on Monday morning.  But, of course, I forgot.  So, we are flip flopping Red Beans and Rice Monday with Taco Tuesday.  There you go.

I usually give you set recipes in this blog but today I just wanted to give you a few ideas for Taco Night.

The first idea is how to make crispy tortilla bowls.  I just bought these cute pans:

You don't need any special pan to make these.  Just ball up a large piece of aluminum foil, lay a tortilla over it, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt.  Bake at 400 degrees until lightly browned and crisp, about 8 - 10 minutes.  Let cool a bit before removing from the ball of foil.  Serve your salsa in these or use them as a bowl for a taco salad.

 The next idea is a quick side dish to go with your tacos, Salsa Rice.  Just warm up some leftover cooked rice, add a little salsa and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Easy and a great way to use leftover rice.


Another tip is to use an upside down muffin tin to hold your taco shells while you fill them.  Great tip for little ones! (Or older ones who are a little clumsy, like me)


                                  

You can use another muffin tin (right side up) to hold all the fixings.

Finally, here is a recipe for Make Your Own Taco Seasoning.  This recipe replaces that packet you buy at the store.  If you have these seasonings in your kitchen, there is no excuse not to have a Taco Tuesday (any night of the week).

MAKE YOUR OWN TACO SEASONING

1 TBS chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

Blend everything together.  Sprinkle over 1 lb cooked and drained ground beef or ground turkey (vegetarian version: use a large can of black beans, rinsed and drained).  Add 3/4 cup water.  Stir well.  Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for a few minutes until thickened.

Here's a taco bowl with all the fixings:

Fun, right?

So, there are a few tips to make Taco Tuesday (even if it's Monday) a success.  Enjoy!