Making Tacos part 1: Taco Seasoning

I thought I'd put something a bit more 'elaborate' on my blog for a change. But to keep it simple, I'll keep the different 'steps' for this recipe separate. I've mentioned before that we all like Tex Mex food, see also my recipe for quesadillas. Most children also like taco shells, so I've started to make tacos every now and again.

Instead of buying all the salsas and the seasoning, I make them all from scratch so I really know what's in them. The only thing I buy ready made at the supermarket are the taco shells.

Taco Seasoning (spicy!)

Approx. 30 grams of taco seasoning

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried fried onions (or onion powder)
• 1/4 teaspoon pili-pili (crushed red pepper flakes)
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, garlic powder, dried onions or onion powder, pili-pili flakes, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Store in an airtight container.

Easy as pie 3: Zucchini, peas & salmon quiche

Since both of my children love to eat salmon, I invented this quiche for them. It's delicious!

Zucchini, peas & salmon quiche

Serves 4

• 1 puff pastry pie base (from the supermarket)
• 1 (green) zucchini (peeled and sliced)
• 2 handfuls of frozen peas (the sweetest you can find)
• 2 salmon fillets (in cubes)
• a handful of  grated cheese (I think I used gruyere cheese)
• 150 g cottage cheese
• 1,5 dl condensed milk (unsweetened)
• 1 tbsp wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• olive oil
• tsp of dill
• (salt) & pepper

- Briefly steam or fry the zucchini slices (4 or 5 mins). They should still be crunchy, as you still have to put it in the oven. Season with dill and salt and pepper to taste.

- Cook the peas briefly in boiling water until they start 'floating'.

- Preheat the oven to 200°C (or 180°C for a fan assisted oven). Beat the 2 eggs and mix them with the cottage cheese, the flour and the condensed milk.

- Put the pie base in a quiche or pie pan (I tend to use a regular silicone pie pan, which means I have to 'fold' the dough a bit at the sides.)

- Now put the zucchini on top of the pie base. You can just throw it in and spread it out a bit, or you can create nice circles with it, that's what I do ;-). Then add the raw cubes or slices of salmon and decorate with the peas.

- Sprinkle with the grated cheese.

- Pour the egg 'mixture' on top of the vegetables and put it in the oven for 15 - 20 mins.

Enjoy!

Ice, Ice, Baby (Making Ice Rubies)

Summer is nearly over in Western Europe, but today the weather forecast here in Belgium says it should be 22°C. Ideal weather for a cold but healthy treat! My Australian friends can look forward to making this in a couple of months, when the rest of us are freezing ;-).

Sugar-free Ice Rubies made with fresh strawberries, lemon juice & organic blackcurrant juice concentrate.

Ice Rubies

• 100 g strawberries
• juice of 1 lemon
• approx. 2 tbsp organic cherry, raspberry or blackcurrant juice concentrate
• ice cube trays (with nice shapes)

- Put the strawberries in the blender and blend them.
- Add the lemon juice and juice concentrate and mix well.
- Pour the strawberry lemon mixture into ice cube trays, preferably trays with nice shapes. If you want to, you can put a wooden or plastic stick into each ice ruby.
- Put them in the freezer for at least 2 hours

You can use fruit and juice concentrate with different colours to make Ice Citrine (yellow = mango and apple juice concentrate), Ice Emerald (green = kiwi and apple juice concentrate),  ...

I found the original recipe in the book: "Mijn kind eet gezond... maar weet het niet" by Lien Willaert. She suggests putting elastic bands in the ice cubes, so children can wear the gemstones on their fingers.

So far, I haven't used elastic bands or sticks, the children just pop the ice gemstones into their mouths. Obviously, they do end up with sticky fingers and faces ;-). Before I forget, I bought my Ice Cube Trays at Ikea: flowers, stars, hearts and little fish...

(Once again, if you would like the recipe in Dutch, leave a comment or send me a message)