I wanted to share our family recipe for taco meat - as I think it's quite a bit different than typical taco meat. Growing up in my family we always had the traditional more dry taco meat in our tacos. This is a family recipe from my hubby's side and how they always eat tacos. The first time I had it I thought it was so different, but realized how much more I liked it and have never looked back! It's a wetter, almost sloppy joe style, taco meat. And they always add a little bit of ketchup....yep you heard me correctly...ketchup at the end to give a little sweet with the zesty. If you don't like ketchup but want the little bit of sweet add a tiny bit of brown sugar. You can use easy jarred ingredients - or if you have homemade salsa throw that in for a more fresh taste. If you don't have pre-made taco seasoning than throw in some garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and cumin as an easy substitute. I think of the taco seasoning as pretty salty - but you can salt and pepper your meat as you go as well. Adjust to your taste!
I always make a pretty big batch (3 pounds of ground meat) of it, as I cook for my in-laws too. If you wanted to make a large batch you could easily freeze some of it. You could also halve the recipe without a problem too. My hubby likes it on soft tortilla shells...I like it on hard shells and we both love it on nachos!! Here's a closer look at the recipe on the card I made for another page in my daughter's personalized cookbook:
I'm also relating my post today to my Fab-ruary Day 5 link up with Helen at I Will Bloom about what makes me smile. There are SO many things I could list here...and the top being my family. However, I know I expressed the importance of my family in yesterday's post. So I want to share that my love of cooking makes me smile!
I love making a meal, or baking, for my family and my in-laws or my Mom or other family and friends. It just brings such joy to be able to do something that is every day - yet special for them. In my family we always joke "food is love" - but I think that's pretty true. When I cook for loved ones it's just another way to show them my heart. And that makes me smile.
