COOK: Fajita/Taco Seasoning Recipe

Let's taco-bout quick and easy dinners, and ways to use the leftovers to create a new and different meal the next day.  Did I lose you all at "taco-bout"?   I know that was corny.   (Although corn is a great addition to a lot of these meals.)

I'll add my basic Fajita Seasoning recipe at the end of this post, (if you only want the recipe scroll to the bottom now.) but first I'd like to talk about some of the different ways you can use the seasoning in different ways, and how to transform the leftovers.

This seasoning is great on ground beef, steak, chicken, shrimp, fish, veggies, and even tofu crumbles!  If your kiddos are anything like mine "Taco Tuesday", on any day of the week, is one of their favorites.  Flour tortillas, corn tortillas, or taco shells, maybe even chips for nachos are the norm.  That said, what happens when everyone is bored of the same thing and you have either leftovers to use up, or want a quick meal?

KC taught me about Taco Grilled Cheese, why I had never thought of this, I don't know, I guess I'm lucky I found him.  This one is simple, butter your bread, put butter side down in your skillet or pan, add a slice of American Cheese, (the only reason I buy the cheese singles is for grilled cheese, or burgers in the summer time), add a bit of warmed up taco meat, top with a bit of grated cheddar cheese, add hot sauce if you want, then top with the other slice of bread, butter side up.  Flip until both sides are toasty and cheese is melted.  If you have some left over Green Chile from your Taco Night you can warm that and use as a dipping sauce.

One of my favorite ways to use up leftover fajita meat and veggies is to cook some pasta and make a quick cheese sauce, (If you are low on time, or energy make some boxed Mac and Cheese!) then add the meat and veggies, mix, top with leftover grated cheese, sour cream, or green chile sauce.  You could also do the same with rice, add in a can of black beans and some corn and you have a real feast!

If you want to get extra fancy you can make Enchiladas, my post with  homemade Enchilada Sauce is here, or you can find my recipe for Baked Chimichangas here.  We also like to make Empanadas, they are easy to freeze, and reheat easily in the microwave for lunches, I'll update the post with my Empanada Dough recipe, but you can also use my Flaky Pie Crust Recipe (omit the sugar) found here.

A few last notes, instead of using water with the Fajita/Taco Seasoning my Father-In-Law uses Pineapple Juice, while KC and Dust hate pineapple they like the flavor it adds.  If you are using the seasoning as a marinade try adding some citrus flavored seltzer to your marinade mix.

Fajita/Taco Seasoning

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon Cornstarch (omit if using for marinade)

2 teaspoons Chili Powder

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Paprika

1 teaspoon Onion Powder

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1/2 teaspoon Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (add more if you like spice!)

1/2 teaspoon Cumin

This is enough for about 2 pounds of meat, you can save any leftover seasoning in an airtight container.

You can use this as a dry rub (great for fish), mix it with some oil, lime juice, seltzer, or even just water to make a marinade for your meat, or add it to cooked meat and/or veggies and add about 1/4 Cup liquid per pound of meat and mix and let simmer.

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CLEAN: My Favorite Cleaning Supplies

This is not a sponsored post, I have not received any products for free, all opinions in this post are my own.  I have linked to specific products to save you time, I do not make anything if you click on the links.  

Recently I've been asked about what I use to clean the house.  I worked as a professional house cleaner and had to use a lot of bleach and commercial chemical cleaners.  Personally, I don't like them.  Also, I have extremely sensitive skin so I'm extra picky about what I'll use.

My Favorite Cleaning Supplies

Anyone that has ever visited will know that I love Method Cleaning Supplies, I have their Gel Hand Soap in every bathroom, in the kitchen I have their Kitchen Gel Hand Wash in Lemongrass and their Dish Pump in Clementine by my sink.  

Their Bathroom Cleaner is the only thing I've found actually gets my bathtub clean without 20 minutes of scrubbing, I simply spray it, walk away for 5-10 minutes, then come back and scrub lightly with a Scrubbing Pad (generic Magic Eraser) and my tub is spotless and white again!  It even cuts through the nasty soap scum that builds up from KC's bar soap!

We have a lot of wood in our house, some is sealed, some isn't, some pieces are antiques and others are things we've made with leftover scrap wood, the only thing I will use to dust and polish them is Method Wood for Good Polish, not only does it smell like almonds, but it leaves our furniture looking clean without any buildup!

I also use their All Purpose Cleaner, I love the Pink Grapefruit, to clean our kitchen counters, walls, outside furniture, and just about everything else!  

Not only do the Method products work well, and smell delicious, I also love the company, here's a little bit about their products and company:

• Plant Friendly
• Non-Toxic Ingredients
• Bottles are 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic
• Pet Safe
• Biodegradeable
• Multiple Plant Derived Ingredients

I can use all of their products without wearing gloves, which is very rare for me!  I feel safe using all of their products around my kids and kitty, and I don't have to worry what I'm breathing in!

That said, I'm not a fan of their glass cleaner, it just didn't seem to work as well as the Sprayway Glass Cleaner I used when I was cleaning professionally.  It's ammonia free, and doesn't leave any streaks, plus it's usually between $2-$3 a can and lasts for quite a while.   I also use this on our stainless steel appliances, it gets rid of any fingerprints or food smears, and makes them look like they did when we first got them!

For the inside of my toilets I use vinegar and baking soda, I just pour in a bit of each, let it sit 10 minutes, and then use my toilet brush to scrub.  

In our kitchen and upstairs bathroom we have luxury vinyl plank floors (peel and stick vinyl flooring that looks like wood.)   I always mop on my hands and knees and just use a simple mixture of hot water, a bit of dish soap, and some hydrogen peroxide (to keep them looking shiny.)  It gets the floors nice and clean, doesn't leave a film, or feel sticky, and I always have everything I need on hand!

These products are what work for me and my household, they might not work for everyone.  If you have products you love let me know in the comments, I'm always looking to try new things!

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ORGANIZING: Tips for organizing any space

I can type recipes all day long, and I can tell you how I clean my bathroom step-by-step.  But, organizing, isn't something that is one-size-fits-all.

While I think my kitchen is perfectly organized, I know that where I have things would drive other people crazy.  (All of my baking supplies are above my oven, so I have to get out the step ladder to get down my ingredients, and I bake a lot!)

That said, my goal for my organization posts is to give you tips, ideas, and basic steps you can take to organize any, or all spaces.

Organizing is kinda my thing, I love having everything organized.

I have dumped everything out of drawers to re-organize it just for fun...

I'm weird, I know...

Anywho...

A few things to start:

Just because you organized a space and it's still organized doesn't mean you won't have to change it.  It might look clean, and it is organized, but; it takes you too long to get to something you use often, or while it works for you, it might frustrate the rest of your family.

I like to think I am crazy organized.  Yet, I still have to go back to different spaces and clean them up or re-do them.  The upstairs powder bath cabinet is a mess, again.  I think I pulled everything out and re-did it in March, but it isn't working.  It's been on my to do list for over a month, and it's all my fault because no one else really uses the cabinet.  (Proof in the picture below, note all the empty TP rolls I'm saving for more holiday projects.)

Organization requires up-keep.  The pantry is organized, and I put away the groceries to keep it organized, but I still have to rearrange things after going to the market, it only takes a few minutes, but don't think that just because a space is organized you don't have to do any maintenance.

One person's mess might be another person's organized.  Our garage is used for storage, to me, it's a disaster, I would love to pull everything out, and put it all back the way I would like it, but for the most part it's KC's space, he uses it for all of his tools, and if I ask him to bring me something from the garage he can [almost] always find it, so I let it be, because it works for him.  (The same with the kiddos craft supplies and toy boxes, as long as things are put away and not on the floor I let them organize it their way, even when it makes my eye twitch!)

"Where do I start?"

Great question.  I don't have an exact answer.

You need to start where it makes the best sense for you.

I know, you are overwhelmed and still confused.

What area bothers you the most?  What space does your family complain about every day?  Where do you spend the most time and get annoyed because you can't get things done quickly?

When you wake up is there a space, cabinet, drawer that you see and it makes you feel overwhelmed?  When your kiddo asks if you signed their permission slip do you panic trying to figure out where it was put?  When you go to the grocery store do you walk up and down every aisle trying to remember if you have XYZ at home, then buy it but get home to realize you have 100 cupcake liners in the pantry already?

That's where you start.

Before on the left, after on the right.

I redo this cabinet about every 6 months.

"How do I start?"

Be ready to get rid of things:

• Trash
• Recycle
• Donate/Sell
• Move to a better location

I find it's best to have a box or bag for everything that is leaving the space.   Then, take the trash and recycle out.  Look at your donate and sell pile, will you really sell the things in the sell pile?  If so, set them aside and plan to take pictures and post within the next few days.  Put the donate items by the front door and make a plan to take them to the drop off location within a few days, otherwise you will just move the donate and sell items around the house as you continue to organize, trust me!

"Now what?"

Now your space should be empty.  Whether it's a drawer, closet, room, etc.  Dust the shelves, vacuum out crumbs, wipe down walls, clean cobwebs, whatever needs to be done.

Then, walk away, make a cup of tea, take a look at the "stuff" you want to put back in the space.

If it's a shared space ask other family members what they want to see out of the space.  

"I'm overwhelmed, what's the next step?"

Put your stuff back.  If you think you need organizing boxes, or baskets try using old Amazon boxes, cut down cereal boxes, or anything you have laying around first.  Give the space some time, if it works and you want something prettier then you can measure and invest.

I know that when you are thinking about organizing you want to go to the nearest Bed, Bath, and Beyond or Amazon, or The Container Store.  We see their advertisements, or magazine articles and everything looks "SO CUTE!" But, until you know it will fit the space, don't buy.

Before on top, after on bottom.

"What's the secret?"

There isn't one.

Whaa whaa whaa...

I have organized a space and it worked for years.

Or, the bathroom cabinet above, I've tried different things every 6 months or so for three years and still don't have a perfect solution.

Purge, try to organize, give it time, if it doesn't work, try something else.  And then, if it still doesn't work, try again.

That said, if you have a certain area that is driving you crazy and you want more personalized help please feel free to reach out to me, send me pictures, and I will do everything I can to help.

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