Taco Seasoning Mix

We love this seasoning for our tacos, so to make things easier when we have them, I make a batch of the seasoning mix up ahead of time. When I get ready to make tacos, I just add 2 T. of seasoning mix per pound of meat. The full directions for the tacos are here: https://www.cherylsrecipes.net/recipe/tacos/

Taco Seasoning Mix
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Taco Seasoning Mix
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients and store in a sealed container. Use 2 T. of seasoning mix per pound of meat. Add to cooked meat with 1/2 cup or so of water, and simmer until the liquid is gone.
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Chocolate Smoothie

Chocolate Smoothie

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This is my absolutely favorite breakfast right now. I am totally addicted to it!! It is like eating a huge bowl of ice cream for breakfast, but it is loaded with vitamins and nutrition! It is high in protein and fiber, so it is a great way to start your day! You can make this into 1 serving (which is what I do) or share it with someone else as a snack or part of a larger breakfast. This recipe actually makes 2 glasses of this smoothie. And trust me, you don't taste the spinach or kale at all!!! The entire recipe contains:
365 calories
9 g. fiber
7 g. fat
37 g. protein
lots of potassium, vitamins A & C, calcium and iron

As always, you can change the recipe to your liking. Substitute milk for the water, leave out the cottage cheese, change up the fruits, use frozen sweet cherries if you don't like the seedy texture of the berries, use a different (or no) protein powder....

I combine the frozen items (spinach, kale, berries, pineapple and banana) and freeze them in quart ziploc bags. Then I combine the dry ingredients and store those in small jelly jars. Then when I get ready to make it in the morning, I just need to combine the 2 containers, add water and cottage cheese, and blend. It is very quick!

Servings Prep Time
1 serving 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
0 minutes 0 minutes

Servings Prep Time
1 serving 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
0 minutes 0 minutes

Chocolate Smoothie

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This is my absolutely favorite breakfast right now. I am totally addicted to it!! It is like eating a huge bowl of ice cream for breakfast, but it is loaded with vitamins and nutrition! It is high in protein and fiber, so it is a great way to start your day! You can make this into 1 serving (which is what I do) or share it with someone else as a snack or part of a larger breakfast. This recipe actually makes 2 glasses of this smoothie. And trust me, you don't taste the spinach or kale at all!!! The entire recipe contains:
365 calories
9 g. fiber
7 g. fat
37 g. protein
lots of potassium, vitamins A & C, calcium and iron

As always, you can change the recipe to your liking. Substitute milk for the water, leave out the cottage cheese, change up the fruits, use frozen sweet cherries if you don't like the seedy texture of the berries, use a different (or no) protein powder....

I combine the frozen items (spinach, kale, berries, pineapple and banana) and freeze them in quart ziploc bags. Then I combine the dry ingredients and store those in small jelly jars. Then when I get ready to make it in the morning, I just need to combine the 2 containers, add water and cottage cheese, and blend. It is very quick!

Servings Prep Time
1 serving 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
0 minutes 0 minutes

Servings Prep Time
1 serving 10 minutes
Cook Time Passive Time
0 minutes 0 minutes

Ingredients


Servings: serving

Instructions
  1. Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. If you like it thinner, add more water or milk.

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Chorizo Chili

This is our favorite recipe for chili.  If I don’t have any chorizo, I just use 2 lb. of ground beef and increase the paprika and cumin to 2 T. each.  Some of you might think it odd to add the cocoa powder or chocolate chips.  However, this adds a richer taste and color to the finished product.

Chorizo Chili
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Servings Prep Time
4 quarts 30 minutes
Cook Time
3 hours
Servings Prep Time
4 quarts 30 minutes
Cook Time
3 hours
Chorizo Chili
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
4 quarts 30 minutes
Cook Time
3 hours
Servings Prep Time
4 quarts 30 minutes
Cook Time
3 hours
Ingredients
Servings: quarts
Instructions
Black Beans
  1. Rinse black beans. Put in pot and cover well with water. Bring to a boil. When the water boils, turn the pot off and let set for 1 hour. Drain beans, cover with fresh water and continue cooking until tender. Add to chili when the beans are tender.
Chili
  1. While beans are soaking, brown beef and chorizo with onions, sweet pepper, garlic, and oil in a Dutch oven.
  2. Add remaining ingredients (except black beans) and simmer for a couple of hours. Add water as needed for the consistency that you desire. Add black beans when they have finished cooking. This is even better if made the day before and reheated.
Recipe Notes

If I don’t have any chorizo, I just use 2 lb. of ground beef and increase the paprika and cumin to 2 T. each.

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Chili Without Beans

I made this to use in a chili cheese dip:  https://www.cherylsrecipes.net/recipe/chili-cheese-dip/

I learned that this is a Texas style chili because it has no beans.  Personally, I prefer my chili with beans, but this works fantastic in this dip!

Chili Without Beans
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Servings Prep Time
8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Chili Without Beans
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Brown beef with onions, sweet pepper, jalapenos and garlic in the oil. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for a couple of hours. Add water as needed for the consistency that you desire.
  2. Serve with desired condiments: corn chips, cheese, sour cream, green onions, cilantro, etc.
Recipe Notes

If you don't have beef base, just use beef broth in place of the beef base and water.  Just read ingredients first if you have food allergies!

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Chili Cheese Dip

I used to make this recipe for parties a lot!:  https://www.cherylsrecipes.net/recipe/chili-dip/  It was super fast and easy.

However, when I found out that I had wheat and soy allergies, I could no longer make it because every single canned chili I can find has soy (along with a lot of preservatives) in it!  I am also not a big fan of Velveeta because it is so processed.  So I came up with this recipe as a replacement and it is even better, although obviously not as easy!  It is still not too difficult though.  I will certainly be making it again!

If you would rather used canned chili for the convenience, just use 3 cans of chili in this recipe.  Or, if you have a favorite chili recipe (with or without beans), substitute about 6-7 cups of that for this chili.

Chili Cheese Dip
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Servings Prep Time
30 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Servings Prep Time
30 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Chili Cheese Dip
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
30 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Servings Prep Time
30 servings 30 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
Chili with no beans
  1. In a large, deep pot, brown ground beef, onion, sweet pepper, garlic, and jalapeno in the oil.
  2. Add all remaining ingredients except cheese and cream. Simmer for a couple of hours until it is cooked down and quite thick.
Dip
  1. Add cheeses to the chili. Stir over medium or low-medium heat to melt the cheeses. Add a little heavy cream for a better texture.
  2. Serve with tortilla chips. I garnished mine with cilantro. My husband liked it even better with the cilantro.
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Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

These are super easy and chocolatey!  When I take them to get-togethers with other choices of cookies, these always go first!  This is a classic recipe with a lot of variations. But this is the way I make them.

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
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Servings Prep Time
6 dozen 5 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 dozen 5 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 dozen 5 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 dozen 5 minutes
Cook Time
12 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: dozen
Instructions
  1. Combine sugar, cocoa, milk, butter and salt in large saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil and cover saucepan for 30 seconds to allow steam to wash sugar crystals down sides of pan. Meanwhile, line cookie sheets with wax paper.
  3. Stir mixture and bring to a boil that can't be stirred down for 1 minute.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until smooth.
  5. Add oats and stir to mix well.
  6. Drop by small cookie scoop onto wax paper. Refrigerate.
Recipe Notes

You can also pour this mixture into a 9" square pan that has been greased, let cool, then cut into squares.

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Chocolate Almond Granola

This is not at all sweet, but my husband loves it!  Of course, if you prefer it sweeter, add more brown sugar or honey!

Chocolate Almond Granola
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Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Chocolate Almond Granola
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Servings Prep Time
8 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. Combine all dry ingredients in large bowl. Combine liquid ingredients and add to dry ingredients. Stir to mix. Spread onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir. Return to oven and bake for another 10 minutes without stirring. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Break into large clusters. Store in covered container at room temperature.
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Tacos

This is the best recipe for taco seasoning I have ever tried! It cooks in about 30 minutes.  This also makes a great nacho!

For Whole30, this can be used in a salad or omelette.

Tacos
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Servings Prep Time
6 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Tacos
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Servings Prep Time
6 servings 5 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Ingredients
Servings: servings
Instructions
  1. Cook ground beef, crumbling as it cooks. While that is cooking, combine dry ingredients. Add seasonings to skillet with cilantro, lime juice and water.
  2. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has been absorbed.
  3. We like to use fresh corn tortillas and cook them on a greased griddle until they are soft and starting to turn brown. Update: We have recently been toasting them over an open flame on our gas stove. That makes them lower calories and fat. Suggested garnishes include: cheese, fresh, chopped cilantro, sliced green onion, salsa, chopped lettuce, chopped tomato or guacamole.
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