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Kitchen Tip Tuesdays: Thicker taco meat filling
We use fried and seasoned ground beef for our taco meat. Since I use my own spices rather than a store-bought taco seasoning packet, if I don't somehow thicken the meat it will remain crumbly and loose -- which is fine for a burrito, but not so great for a taco, especially tacos with corn tortillas, which I love! :)
Here are my ways of thickening taco meat:
Thicken taco meat with flour and water
1. Fry ground beef with onions and peppers (if using). Drain grease. Return meat to pan, with heat on low.
2. Add desired seasonings, along with about 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour (for 2 pounds of ground beef). Stir until the seasonings and flour are coating the meat (no lumps).
3. Turn heat to medium, stir in about 1/4 cup water, and continue to cook and stir until meat is thickened.
Thicken taco meat with beans
1. Fry ground beef with onions and peppers (if using). Drain grease and return meat to pan.
2. Mix a little refried beans or tender cooked pinto beans into the taco meat until meat is thickened.
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1. Bake potatoes in crock pot (Christy)
2. Fresh ginger tips
3. Keeping recipes handy (Linda)
4. Seasoning stoneware (Amy)
5. Differences in salts
6. Using a timer (Stacy)
7. Fixing over-beaten whipped cream (Alea)
8. Easy/cheaper tomato juice (Molly)
9. Coffee filter tips (Kim)
10. Time spent cleaning appliances (Christine)
11. Corn on cob in slow cooker (Wendy)
12. Summer baking tips (Annie)
13. Easy hulling strawberries (Brandi)
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Comments
Easy Baked Potatoes
http://onelittlewordsheknew.blogspot.com/2010/08/kitchen-tip-tuesdays-baked-potatoes.html
Thanks Tammy!
Fresh Ginger
http://wisdomspupil.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-learned-something-new.html
Keeping Recipes Handy
I like to make my own taco seasonings, too but always had a problem with the meat being runny. Thanks for the tip.
My kitchen tip is for keeping favorite recipes handy.
Linda
http://www.lindaslunacy.blogspot.com
Thanks for the tip! I've
Thanks for the tip! I've been experimenting with homemade taco seasoning blends the last few months. What spices do you use in your taco seasoning?
Here's my tip for seasoning a stone:
http://more-than-rubies-blog.blogspot.com/2010/07/kitchen-tip-seasoning-stone.html
Amy
Taco meat spices
I use this taco meat recipe and it includes onions, garlic, and green peppers (cooked with the meat), chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and Tapatio (hot sauce). Cumin -- especially freshly ground! -- makes all the difference to me!! :)
What have you come up with in your experimentations? :)
Awesome
tip.Thanks.You always come up with great ones.I have done it with refried beans before but never adding flour.Thanks I will have to try that.
What are you favorite topping on a hamburger meat taco Tammy?
I am kinda a plain kinda girl.I like tomatoes,cheese,sour cream and hot sauce or taco sauce and lettuce.Guacamole if we have it but I would rather have chips dipped in that than on my taco :)
Beef taco fillings
I always figure on the meat, beans (if possible -- I don't always have some cooked), sour cream, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes (or salsa if no fresh tomatoes). :) I usually splash some hot sauce right in the meat when I'm making it! :D
Salt
I just did a post on different kinds of salt and how to use them (or how I use them)!
The Salt of the Earth http://www.nerdfamilyfood.com/2010/08/the-salt-of-the-earth.html
NerdMom
mom@nerdfamily.com
YUM!
I liked your tip Tammy. Especially because taco meat is so much better when it is thickened!
My tip for today is to use a timer! It helps avoid all sorts of mishaps.
http://delightinginthedays.com/peace-in-the-kitchen-use-a-timer/
Thank you so much for hosting and allowing us to link up here.
fixing over beaten whipped cream
I drain the fat from the meat and then only add a Tablespoon of water to my homemade taco seasoning to prevent it from getting runny. I frequently add beans. Not only does it thicken the mixture, but it stretches the meat.
My tip is for fixing over beaten whipped cream: http://www.premeditatedleftovers.com/2010/08/marshmallow-mixed-berry-pie.html
Alea @ Premeditated Leftovers
I never thought of that!
Admittedly, I don't cook much with meat, but I never thought of thickening the meat to help it stay in the tacos a little better. That's smart!
My tip is using a kitchen tool (cookie cutters) to make crafts and other projects.
http://www.feelslikehomeblog.com/2010/08/10-crafts-to-make-with-cookie-cutters/
Happy Tuesday!
Tara
10 Great Resources for Saving Money on Real Food
I scoured the internet looking for great tips on saving money while eating real food. Here's what I found!
http://thelocalcook.com/2010/08/03/10-great-resources-for-saving-money-on-real-food/
Quick and Easy Way to Make Tomato Juice
Here is my link. This is the first time I am linking up!
Molly Green
Econobusters.com
http://www.econobusters.com/?p=5093
Uses for Coffee Filters
http://www.alittlebitofthisandthat.com/2010/08/03/coffee_filter/
Think About Maintance before you Buy!
What a great tip! So smart! That's one of those things where I think, "why didn't I think of that?" I learn something new almost every week!
Here's my tip for the week: http://www.idreamofclean.net/2010/08/02/do-you-think-about-how-long-an-item-will-take-you-to-clean-before-you-bring-it-home/
Warm Weather Dessert # 5
Hi Tammy :-)
I always use the adding some flour method. I add a teany bit more spice, because the flour can dull the seasonings, but the flour also helps absorb any grease that didn't drain like it was suppose to, etc.
Today I am linking up 'Warm Weather Dessert # 5' http://thebzhousethatlovebuilt.blogspot.com/2010/08/warm-weather-dessert-5.html. I'm quite sure your family would enjoy it!
Hope you don't swealter in this week's heat,
Cheryl B.
http://thebzhousethatlovebuilt.blogspot.com
taco meat
I've used oatmeal to thicken taco meat. It works great and adds a little texture. My husband worked in a mexican drive thru restaurant in his college days, and that's where we first discovered this. You just cook up your meat and add a little oatmeal. No one notices, truly!
Thanks as always for keeping your kitchen tips going, Tammy! I always love reading your blog!
Quick oats to thicken taco meat
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing!! :)
Works with meatloaf too.
Oatmeal also works great instead of bread crumbs as the addition to meatloaf or meatballs. I agree that no one can tell that it is in there, especially if it is ground slightly or the instant kind.
Betsy M
I ate in a mexican drive
I ate in a mexican drive thru restaurant that originated in Abilene, Texas and used oatmeal to thicken taco meat. Since the restaurant chain has expanded, the taco meat has changed. I really liked the original recipe, but haven't been able to find it. Could you have the recipe I'm looking for?
Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob
Check out how easy it is to use your slow cooker for perfectly cooked corn-on-the-cob at
http://aroundmyfamilytable.blogspot.com/2010/08/easy-slow-cooker-corn-on-cob.html
Thanks,
Wendy
http://aroundmyfamilytable.blogspot.com
kitchen tip
Love your ideas to thicken up taco meat. I will be making tacos later this week I believe I will use the recipe to thicken with beans.
Here is one to stay cool while making desserts for faimly. http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2010/08/summer-baking-tips-for-serving-desserts.html
Easy Hulling Strawberries and Homemede Fruit Roll-ups
http://sneakymommysecrets.blogspot.com/2010/08/homemade-fruit-roll-ups.html
Brandi
Interview Questions
Hi Tammy!
Did you answer my latest 5 questions? I searched through the recap but couldn't find them. Am I looking in the wrong place? If you haven't, no worries. I just didn't want to miss the answers. :-D
Questions not yet answered
I have them on the list for later this week. At least, that is the plan! ;) I always have a post planned for every day and then only get half of them finished in time, so I keep recycling my lists of recipes waiting to be posted!! :)
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