SSC’s 13-Day Holiday Challenge, Day 4: Tacos and Tortillas
It’s time for tacos and tortillas!
I’m so excited because I LOVE tacos. And getting a gift bag of ingredients for making homemade tacos and tortillas is so exciting.
And really, who doesn’t love tacos?
Tips for Putting Today the Taco and Tortilla Mix
Day 4 of the Simply Sophisticated 13-Day Holiday Challenge includes recipes and mixes for taco seasoning mix and homemade corn tortillas.
Mix the taco seasoning spices and put in a container. Then mix the dry ingredients for the tortillas into a mason jar or plastic bag for gifting. You can add lime, onions and garlic, on the side.
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Instructions for Making the Tortillas
There are several options for making tortillas, with pressing them in a tortilla press (gift idea) being one of the fastest. But I have fond memories of our Mexican ‘Mom’ when I was growing up, patting out the dough in her hands. And you can use a rolling pin – I have plenty of times – when you don’t have other options. Click the link here for tips for learning how to use a tortilla press properly, because there are definite tricks to it.
Once you’ve had fresh tortillas it’s hard to eat the already made kind. They are just so much better.
Taco Making Tips
Making tacos and tortillas at home is fun the whole family can get in on. It’s also very easy! And fast, which is another winner. On nights that I’m busy, I can whip up a bunch of tacos in about a half an hour and have dinner on the table.
This taco seasoning mix works well with chicken, beef, pork, fish or beans. It’s very similar in flavor to the classic Taco Bell beef taco. In fact, you probably don’t want to miss out on making my Better Than Taco Bell Tacos that uses this mix.
If using beans or making veggie tacos, start with half the mix and adjust for your taste buds because beans don’t soak up as much of the flavor as meat does.
Add a good taco sauce to the kit and everyone can add heat to their own levels. A few limes add fresh citrus to finish off your tacos.
Tacos are the perfect antidote to all the rich holiday food.
Happy Holidays!
Don’t miss the other days of our 13-Day Holiday Challenge. Day 3 was a lovely Holiday Simmer Potpourri that smells your home with citrus and spices. Are you making any of our holiday recipes?
Taco Seasoning Mix
Ingredients
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 ½ Tbsp. masa corn flour for thickening
- 4 ½ tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powderr
- ¼ tsp. white pepper if desired
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- ½ tsp. ground cayenne pepper adjust to your tastes
- ½ tsp tumeric
- ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
Instructions
- Mix all spices together. Enough for a 1 pound batch of taco meat. If using only beans, use half of mix and adjust for your tastes.
Homemade Corn Tortillas
Equipment
- Tortialla press
Ingredients
- 1 cup masa
- ½ cup cornmeal
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ to ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Mix masa, cornmeal, and salt in a medium-size bowl.
- Add 1/2 cup water. Stir and pull mixture together in a dough. Add more water if needed until dough is holding together but not overly wet. It will slightly sticky.
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
- Divide dough into 10 pieces and roll into balls.
- Roll out dough to about an 1/8″ thick, between two sheets of plastic or parchment paper or use a tortilla press.
- Cook tortilla in the hot skillet for about 30 seconds on each side. Remove and keep warm in a towel. Use as desired.