Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Taco Seasoning Mix

1 cup dry minced onion
1/2 cup chili powder
2 tablespoons cumin
4 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon oregano
4 teaspoons garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder

Combine all ingredients and store in cool, dry place.

I keep mine in a Tupperware container and just shake it before using, because some of the ingredients sift down to the bottom, and you want all of their flavor when you use your mix.

When using for Mexican dishes, use about 1 tablespoon or so per1 lb ground beef, chicken or beans. Add more if you like the extra flavor.

Homemade "Shake and Bake"

Home made version of shake and bake for chicken...

1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup flour
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp poultry seasoning
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients and store in a sealable container or a zipper topped plastic bag.
This mix will keep up to 4 months in the pantry - depending on the humidity - or you may just want to keep it in the freezer. This recipe also doubles or triples well.

To use this:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place one cup of the mix in a plastic bag.

In a bowl, mix an egg and 1/2 cup of milk. Dip the chicken pieces one at a time into the milk mixture, then shake one at a time in the plastic bag.

Place on a baking pan and bake for the appropriate time based on the chicken your using, it can be as little as 20 minutes or up to an hour for larger, bone-in pieces of chicken.