RECIPE WED #8: MYO Ortego-like TACO SAUCE!!

I am a sucker for MYO mixes and sauces that taste just like the ones that cost $$ at the grocery stores, and I stumbled upon this taste-alike recipe from THE Make Your Own Zone blog and am going to give this recipe a try since we really enjoy the taco sauce. Now I am on a quest to find a good taste-a-like MYO HEALTHY Catalina dressing, since I really like Catalina dressing on my taco salad along with taco sauce...

 

MYO Copy Cat SUPER Garlicy Herb Dip

I LOVE this one particular garlic herb dip 

from a popular home based dip and mix company 

but it's loaded with preservatives...

SO I  in search of a healthier alternative,  I found this recipe for a garlic mayo online and tweaked it to make a dip and added some herbs....

This recipe fits the bill with fresh ingredients, no added preservatives, tastes even better than that other dip mix and just as intense with garlicy goodness! 

Place dip in a hallowed Yellow Pepper

HMMMM, HMMM DELISH!!

 Savory Garlic Herb Dip

• 3-5 cloves garlic (Depending on taste- we LOVE 5 cloves!!)
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Cup sour Cream 
• 1/4C Fresh Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
• 1/2 tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp salt + 1 pinch or so
• 1/8-1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper 
• 1 tsp Dill
• 1/2 t Oregano
• 1 Pinch of Sugar

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1. Crush the garlic cloves with the flat of a knife, and remove the skin. 
2. Mince the garlic very, very  fine. 
3. Add a pinch of salt, and using the flat of the knife again 
4. Scrap and press the garlic against the cutting surface to make a very smooth paste. It's making this paste from the fresh garlic that gives this dip its intense garlic flavor.
5. Add the garlic to a small bowl, and whisk together with the rest of the ingredients. 

Wrap bowl tightly or top with tight fitting lid. 

Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop. Serve cold. 

 I Love to serve my dips in creative containers, like  hallowed out produce. 

The red and yellow peppers were so pretty this day so I hallowed them out and this pepper with it's little top & gorgeous steam it made such a fantastic lid to my delicious DIP!

WALLAH! 

SIMPLE, ADORABLE, & ONE OF A KIND DIP CONTAINER!!! 

Linked to Weekend PotLuck

DIY Taco Seasoning

DIY Taco Seasoning

This is my version of that super salty MSG loaded seasoning packet, mix up extra and store in an air tight container for future meals, make meal a snap!!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoon smoked  paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin (or 1 t whole cumin seeds toasted)
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• pinch cayenne pepper

1. In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper, and grind in spice grinder. 
2. Store in an airtight container. 

3 tablespoons = 1 package of taco seasoning mix
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Update to how I make the taco seasoned beef now 6/21/2012:

 I have friends whose spouses are Mexican and they way they make their ground beef for tacos is much different than the seasoning we American's often think of. 

So I actually blend the 2 bc my family doesn't like it when I stray off the path of the familiar but I get bored with that so I blend the 2... 

1. Mince 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic and chipotle pepper from a can of adobo seasoning very fine.
2. Start the hamburger to brown in a hot, dry skillet. When the fat starts to render add the onion, garlic and chipotle, and stir to distribute. 
3. When the meat is about half browned, rub Mexican oregano and thyme to crumble them, then add them along with the remaining spices from above to the browning meat and stir to distribute. Continue to cook the meat until all surfaces are browned, reduce heat and cook through if necessary. Drain off any extra fat. 
4. Taste and adjust seasonings.