Simple Taco Seasoning

You may have noticed that I love tacos. I’ve spent many a night coming up with new means by which to effectively pack tortillas with various meats and toppings, all in the name of easily deliverable deliciousness. Though I have quite a few favorites, including carne asada, grilled fish tacos, and yogurt marinated chicken, there will always be a special place in my heart reserved for the ground meat variety.
I grew up on those bad boys: giant flour tortillas stuffed with grated cheese, chopped tomatoes, shredded iceberg lettuce, and of course, a heaping mound of ground beef, seasons with a palm-sized packet full of salty spices. Yum. I’d slather that sloppy mess with a squirt of ketchup – a childhood obsession – and dig in.
Fast forward to present day, and you’ll notice that my methods have changed a bit. I rarely use ketchup anymore, and I’m usually so focused on what ingredients are the freshest that I never remember to restock my supply of seldom used taco seasoning.
Lo and behold, you can imagine my distress when I flop a pound of ground chuck in a frying pan, and open the spice cabinet, to find naught but a lonely packet of Kung Pao Chicken powder, expiration date July, 2013.
It’s instances like these that necessitate the following seasoning recipe; a simple mixture of spices that results in a zesty taco; one ultimately more preferable to the packet-borne version.

Ingredients:
-1 lb. Ground beef or turkey
-1 can (15 oz) black beans (drained)
-1 tsp cumin
-1 tsp chili powder
-1/2 tsp garlic powder
-1/2 tsp ground coriander
-1/2 tsp onion powder
-1/2 tsp dried oregano
-1/2 tsp brown sugar
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 tsp black pepper

For serving:
-tortillas
-shredded greens
-grated cheese
-salsa, guac, or whatever else you’d like on top!

Instructions:
1 – Brown the meat in a frying pan over medium heat. As the meat is browning, drain the beans, and combine all of the spice ingredients in a small glass or bowl.
2 – Drain the meat, and then return the pan to the heat. Fold the beans and the spice mixture into the meat, and add a 1/3 of a cup of water.
3 – Mix it all together, and cook it until the moisture is reduced, which will only take a minute or two.
4 – Serve it all up on a tortilla or in a taco shell of your choice, with layers of cheese, veggies, and whatever other toppings you choose!

Enjoy!