Maybe if I Paid Attention

I am forever forgetting important things at the grocery store.  If I'm making spaghetti I forget sauce.  Today it was tacos- I forgot the taco seasoning packets.  Oops!  I could have gone to the store to get them but I'd probably get distracted by something sparkly and forget again.  Plus I'd have to pack up all 4 kids and drag them along for a couple stupid seasoning packets...that I need if we were planning to have dinner tonight.  Ugh.  
Cue Google.  I would have Swagbucked or Binged but then I'd have to log in and I'm not even willing to buy food to feed my family so that was out of the question.  
I Googled "make your own taco seasoning".  I was SO happy to get tons of results but then was quickly overwhelmed and just chose the first result that didn't look spammy.  I ended up on About.com on a page called Taco Season Mix.  Great!  Can't go wrong, right?  Usually that statement ends in death and food poisoning and bitterness but I actually got a pretty tasty recipe that was super easy to make. 

Here's the deal:

• 1/4 cup instant minced onion
• 2 Tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. paprika
• 2 tsp. crushed dried red pepper flakes
• 1-1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. dried marjoram
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp. instant minced garlic
• 1 tsp. ground cumin

I play by my own rules so I changed it a little.  I didn't have marjoram and my garlic is powdered.  I didn't put in as much onion and I totally omitted the cornstarch on a hunch.  It was REALLLLLY good!  Really good.  And the kids didn't even notice that it was different from their regular tacos which is a huge plus because they notice everything.  Even better was that I did notice the difference and really liked it.  When I make it again (if I don't forget to buy more chili powder) I will use a lot less salt.  That was too much salt.  After finishing my dinner I looked back over the instructions (which I hadn't noticed before because I was too busy ignoring them) I saw that the recipe was meant to last more than one night. 

Instructions:

"Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and blend thoroughly with wire whisk. Spoon mixture into a tightly closed container and label as "Taco Seasoning Mix". Store in a cool, dry place. Use within 6 months. Makes 6 packages (about 2 Tbsp. each) of mix. 2 Tbsp. equals 1.25-oz. pkg. purchased taco seasoning mix."

That was supposed to make 6 packages, huh...okaaay.  I used it all.  On 1lb. of ground beef.  Perhaps that is why it was too salty, but I would have used the same amount of the other ingredients on 1lb again because it was just right. 

I probably shouldn't even be allowed in the kitchen.