Homemade Taco Seasoning

Since our family has been making transitions to eat better*, I've been trying to make a lot more of our own pantry staples. An easy transition has been to make our own taco seasoning. I've tried a few recipes and didn't really care for them... the recipes that had chili powder as the main ingredient just didn't seem to taste all that great. Then I found one that used mostly cumin... and I tweaked it to fit our tastes... and we loved it. It's the only one we make now! 

[terrible phone picture, but oh well!]

2 tablespoons cumin
1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black or white pepper
1/4 teaspoon chili powder

(sometimes I add a little bit more of the "spicy" ingredients depending on how hot we want it, and sometimes I add red pepper flakes. It all depends on our mood... or my pregnancy nausea!)

I always double it, though. Throw all the ingredients in a bowl and mix it up. You can put it in an old spice container or whatever you have. I've been asked several times "how much do you use?" and honestly, it depends! I usually make 1 lb of ground beef when we have tacos (so Jake can have leftovers for lunch the next day), and when the meat is done browning (with diced onions) and has been drained if needed, I add a bunch of this seasoning and some salt and a little water... and I taste it. If it needs more, I add more. Simple as that. :) 

What other home made pantry staples should I give a try? Any suggestions? 

*we generally eat pretty "healthy," but I've been trying to reduce the amount of processed foods (even though we don't eat very much), things with MSG/GMOs, etc. 

green onions {don't throw them away!}

We use green onions a lot in our house, so we are forever buying them... but I recently saw this idea on Pinterest! I had no idea that you could just stick the green onions in a jar/glass of water and that they would continue to grow. It's kind of a "duh" / "why didn't I think of that?" thing.

I had cut these almost all the way down to where the green meets the white (they were in a shorter glass at that point)... just a few days ago. These things grow like weeds! Just snip 'em off whenever you need some green onion goodness. You can occasionally change the water and rinse off the roots, otherwise they might get a little slimy. 

It's so colorful and pretty... and it's a good way to save a few bucks, too!

Home made laundry soap

I've been wanting to make our own detergent for a while... but I was waiting on a 5 gallon bucket! I'm cheap and didn't want to buy one. My mom brought one over recently so I decided it was time to get to work. Ryan and I were up early one morning (who am I kidding, we're up early *every* morning!) so I started this project around 6:30 and was done by 6:45. EASY PEASY.

Here's what you need!

• a five gallon bucket and lid
• 1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap
• 1 box of [Arm and Hammer Super] Washing Soda
• 1 box of [20 Mule Team] Borax
• a plastic stick or long handled spoon *
• a plastic bag **

* since this mixture gels, you need to stir it every now and then. Using a stick or spoon just shy of the height of the bucket will allow you to leave it inside. A plastic stick is recommended, because wood may rot or metal may corrode.

** as much as I like enlisting my husband to help me with things so he knows how much I need him, I can't always wait until he gets home to open the 5 gallon bucket every time I want to do laundry. My poor fingers would not be happy if I tried to do it myself. So instead of opening and closing a 5 gallon bucket all of the time, you can cover the bucket with a plastic bag and them just lightly push down the lid so it seals. The mixture will evaporate if you don't cover it, so either do this method or close the lid completely.

1. Unwrap the Fels-Naptha bar and grate it. I've heard you can put it in a food processor and do it that way, but it honestly didn't take long (nor was it difficult) to grate by hand using a small hand grater. O

Oh, that's so grate. ;]

2. Boil 4 cups of water in a large pot.

 Once it is boiling (BOILING-boiling, not kinda-sorta-boiling), add the grated soap. 

 Stir it until it is completely melted. This will take some time, and it may clump together.

Keep stirring it and it will completely melt together, like this.

3. Once it is melted together, remove it from the heat. Take your bucket to the bathroom and fill it halfway with hot water. Add the melted soap mixture, and 1 cup of the Super Washing Soda and 1/2 cup of the Borax.

Get your little helper to bring you your spoon :) and stir it really well.

 Then fill it up the rest of the way with hot water. Stir it again, and then cover it with the plastic bag and lid.

Let it sit overnight before you use it. It will thicken like a gel and need to be stirred every now and then.

To use:

Top load Washer:

1/4 cup detergent per load for regularly soiled clothes

1/2 cup detergent per load for heavily soiled clothes

Front load Washer:

1/8 cup detergent per load for regularly soiled clothes

1/4 cup detergent per load for heavily soiled clothes

I don't know the EXACT cost per load of laundry, but one lady calculated hers out and supposedly she said it came to just about 7 cents per load. All of the ingredients I bought cost me about $6, and obviously the two boxes of powders will make SEVERAL 5 gallon buckets of detergent. So it is very inexpensive. I'll have to let you know how it actually works... it's Saturday, and that means laundry day!!

*edited to add* I knew I was forgetting something! The smell! It smells really good; the Fels-Naptha soap has a nice clean scent to it. But I've heard you can add essential oils to it, also, if you would like a certain scent (lavendar comes to mind). YUM! :)