Monday, October 4, 2010

Recipe Exchange - Let's Get Cooking - Taco Soup

So last week I sent out a missive, a plea if you will, to the good people of the internet to come to my aid and kick start my fall cooking...I'd been a kitchen dropout all summer, forcing my poor family to eat mountains of leftovers, takeout, pizza, and half conceived flops...and so many lovely ladies answered my cry for help that we were able to put together a fantastic roving recipe exchange (totally inspired by Michelle at Studio Surface)...and for the next month we'll be tossing the ball from blog to blog giving you our best fall recipes...the full schedule can be found at the end of this post and I'll be linking up the rest of the week so we can slog through "What's for Dinner" together...so without further ado I bring you:
Taco Soup
Okay, let me preface this - this is not a gourmet recipe, certainly not a foodie one - in fact, half of it involves opening cans (and if they freak you out a bit Eden Organics cans are BPA free) - but it is delicious, easy, foolproof and hearty...my mother gave it to me many years ago and it is without fail the one recipe people always ask me for...totally easy to customize and if you think ahead can be thrown in the crockpot in the morning or during naptime...easy to freeze half or generously offer it to your neighbors with a new baby...

1 lb ground meat - I like turkey but beef and chicken work equally well (easily left out for veggie option)
1 chopped onion
Brown ground meat with onion, drain and pour into crockpot or large sauce pan 

Add (undrained):
1 can hominy
1 can Rotel tomatoes & chilis
2 cans stewed tomatoes (I like to sub chopped, fresh)
1 can corn (fresh here too)
1 can pinto beans (with jalapenos or I add one small fresh)
1 can black beans

Mix in:
1 pkg taco seasoning & 1/2 pkg guacamole spice mix (I use organic, msg free versions by Simply Organic )
or your own special spice mix - garlic, cumin, chili powder, etc

Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour (or crockpot on low for 3-4 hours)

Garnish with all or any of the following: cilantro, avocado, tortilla chips, shredded cheese, lime wedges, sour cream

Stay Tuned for more from these fantastic bloggers:

Oct 4th - Michelle - Pretty Mommy
Oct 5th - Torrie - a place to share...
Oct 6th - Katie - the30girl.com
Oct 8th - Estelle - www.underapinkmoon.com
Oct 11th - Danielle - domestic dish
Oct 12th - Chassity - Look Linger Love
Oct 13th - Rebecca - Reluctant Floridian
Oct 14th - Elisabeth - You Plus Me Equals
Oct 15th - Jora -- Domestic Reflections
Oct 18th - catherine - Rikshaw Design
Oct 19th - Abby - 5th Joy
Oct 20th - stephanie - Scrumptious
Oct 21st - jennifer - whiskitgood.com
Oct 22nd - kate - butthesqueal.blogspot.com
Oct 25th - Tina - Bull In A China Shop
Oct 26th - Kim - Lighter and Local 
Oct 27th - Elaine - Mama Seasonings
Oct 28th - Jess - Shades of Sunshine

Oct 29th - Michelle - Studio Surface, The Blog

Nov 1st - Jennifer - Croissants and Root Beer
Nov 4th- Miya - You Plus Me Equals
Nov 5th - Rhonda -
Nov 6th Jessica - Civetta
Nov 7th Leanne - 

Thanks so much girls!! If anyone wants to join in the sign up is here,,,Happy Cooking! xoxo, M

7 comments:

  1. Truly love these types of "non-foodie" recipes- because they are simple, inexpensive, usually resourceful (can be easily adapted/created with what you already have), and especially because they are *nostalgic... reminding me of my mom's simple/quick cooking, and my grandmother's amazing, but not ritzy/showy meals.

    I look forward to the rest, and I'll link this and the others to my post tomorrow!

    Not to mention- I can't wait to try this... If it wasn't "my" day to post a recipe tomorrow, this would be on tonight's menu for sure:).

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  2. Loos so good! It is raining in my neck of the woods today and I was thinking about soup! I had to link you up with my monday meal planning post because I am making this TONIGHT! Yum!

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  3. This is so great Michelle! I will join in if it's not too late!!!
    I need some new Fall recipes too and a kick in the a** to step it up a notch in the kitchen. :)

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  4. This looks great. I am new to your blog (found it over at Stephanie's) and I really look forward to seeing more recipes from the exchange. Please count me in next time :)
    naina

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  5. D lish!!! I can not wait to try!! yum!

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  6. Love, love, love the exchange. I will delight in all the meal ideas!

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  7. Michelle! If you are into hominy, you MUST make this. I clipped it from Gourmet a million years ago and I always double it (keep in mind I am usually just cooking for 2). It's THAT good!

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I'm hanging on your every word...let me know what you think!