Homemade Taco Seasoning

Does you family like tacos? Our family loves taco salad! So the other day while scrolling through the Heavenly Homemaker's blog, I came across this recipe for homemade taco seasoning. I decided to give it a try. I made the seasoning and then whipped up a small batch of taco meat with it. It turned out SO good! My Mom and brothers loved it, and so did my Dad. This recipe is...

1. Easy to make and store

2. Healthier (no preservatives etc...)

3. Cheaper (way cheaper)

4. Tastes great! (Did I already mention that?)  :) 

So are you craving tacos or taco salad yet? :) If so, then here is the recipe...

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

1/2 cup chili powder

1/4 cup onion powder

1/8 cup ground cumin

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

1 Tablespoon paprika

1 Tablespoon sea salt

Put all ingredients into a jar and shake. Wait...put a lid on the jar...then shake. :)

Three Tablespoons of Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix is equal to one 4-ounce package of taco seasoning mix.  I would recommend adding 3 Tablespoons of mix to one pound of browned ground meat for tacos.

Also, shake the jar again before each use to make sure the spices are well distributed throughout the mix.

Yep, it's that easy! :)

Long over-due update!

Wow! It does not feel like it has been six months and seven days since I updated this blog! This has been a rather busy year for us so far, and I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that July is almost over, August is almost here, and I'm turning 19 in less than four weeks. Yikes! Pretty soon it will be time to rake leaves and prepare for winter...whoa...hold on!! Alright, so maybe I'm pushing things ahead just a wee bit. This may be Canada, but we probably have about three more months before we have to start raking leaves! :) What I'm trying to say is that this month, summer and year have just flown by! So here's a little update on what we have been doing lately...

If you remember from my previous posts, our town was hit with severe flooding just before Christmas. Sobeys, the store where I work as a cashier/demo clerk (handing out free food samples), suffered a lot of damage. Originally it was supposed to be closed until mid-February, but as it turned out the grand re-opening was not until April 29th. I went back to work in the middle of April to help get things ready for the grand re-opening.

Also in the middle of April, the lady who delivers the morning paper in our town was involved in a car accident. Due to that and some health difficulties she is facing, we took on her route for at least the summer. It does require getting up rather early (Dad & Mom get up around 3-3:30 to meet the truck, and the rest of us get up around 4-4:30 to roll papers before heading out on our routes), but it has been a tremendous blessing for us right now as my Dad does not have a whole lot of work.

In June, we had our annual Homeschool conference. As always, we really enjoyed talking to, learning from and sharing ideas with other homeschooling families.

The first week of July Andrew and I went to Windcrest Bible Camp for the Senior High week. Andrew was a camper, and I was on Task Force. We were blessed with amazing weather and the whole week was a great encouragement to us. I really enjoyed working with the cooks in the kitchen, and was even able to get a copy of the recipe for the Coconut Cream Pie that I love! :) Yes, I'll consider sharing it in the future...

There! That was the extremely basic walk through my summer so far. I hope to post more frequently in the days to come and I have some new recipes to share with ya'll! Until next time...

THE BIBLE...

“The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good the design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”

~ Author Unknown

Thought to Ponder: "My Duty"

"Herein is my duty 

to be as Christ in this world, 

to do what he would do, 

to live as he would live, 

to walk in love and meekness, 

then would he be known, 

then would I have peace in death."

-from "The Valley Of Vision" (page 23)

"Miracle Of God"

Last week our family got a call from my Grampy telling us that Grammy was in the hospital with what they thought was probably a mini-stroke. As it turns out it was stroke and not a mini one, and the MRI showed damage on the brain. Despite this, she was released from the hospital after two days, and at this point she has no lasting side affects. Praise God! 


Here is a portion of a praise e-mail that she sent out:


"I am going to report a "miracle of GOD" in case you have not heard. Tuesday evening at 6pm my vision messed up & we rushed to Willis Knighton in Shreveport concerned about a stroke.  After many tests, etc. it was determined that I indeed had a stroke (rather than a TIA) because the damage showed up on an MRI.  However, my vision cleared in 13-15 hours & I have no other residual problems.  My doctor was the one who pronounced it as a "miracle of GOD" that he had never seen before and he feels that my brain healed itself. We serve a great GOD."


Praising Him,
Elisabeth Joy

Microwave Chocolate Cake

Did you know that you could have delicious, homemade, warm chocolate cake in just five minutes? You can! My Aunt Sylvia sent me this recipe awhile back, but I just tried it out yesterday afternoon. I was rather surprised at how good it tasted! Not the same texture as a regular cake, but good none the less, and so quick and simple to make. 


MICROWAVE CHOCOLATE CAKE: 

Ingredients: 
2 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chocolate chips
Splash of vanilla 

Preparation:
Put dry ingredients into a coffee mug and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract and mix again. Put the mug in the microwave and cook on high for *2 minutes. The cake may rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed. Allow to cool and tip out onto a plate if desired. 


*It may take longer to cook depending on your microwave, mine took about 2.5 minutes, and one of my cousins said it took him about 4 minutes. 


(This post is dedicated to my chocolate-loving friend, Mariah) 

Thought to Ponder: "The Possession of Grace"

"The possession of grace fills us with very different feelings from the possession of anything else. A man who has much money is not very anxious that all the world should be rich---one who has much learning does not long that all the world were learned; but if you have tasted the grace of the gospel, the irresistible longing of your hearts will be, O that all the world might taste its regenerating waters!" -Robert Murray McCheyne 

J & I

On New Year's Eve, I had a little neighbor come over and help me make gingerbread men. His mother had bronchitis AND shingles, so I decided she might want a break! :D He loves playing with my laptop camera so we took a few photos. Excuse the quality! 

This is my favorite one.

Grape Popsicle Mustache

J trying to make
"Elephant Ears"

Big hugs (and smiles)

He was so much fun to spend the afternoon with! Such a ham. I love little kids!

Back again and flood photos....

Hello, I apologize for this my blogging being so sparse lately! 

(Okay, so it's been four months to the day since I posted anything!) 

Too much has happened recently to fill you in on everything,

 but here's a little glimpse at what I've been up to for the last month at least. 

On December 13, our town got over 200 milliliters of rain, 

which caused the worst flooding in our area since 1923. 

The mall area of town was hit the worst, and several stores suffered 

severe damage and are still closed, one of which was Sobeys. 

 So I am off work until probably mid to late February. 

Many roads here and in surrounding towns are still closed,

 

and in some places whole neighborhoods had water half way up the first floor. 

As far as our neighborhood, we were spared any really bad damage. 

The water about 100 feet from our house was over three feet deep 

across the road, and we had some flooding in the basement, 

but we were able to avoid severe flooding by renting an extra pump. 

Please pray for those who are still without a home because of the storm.