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Friday, June 10, 2011

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I stopped buying taco seasoning a year or so ago.  I used to buy a LOT of taco seasoning, because I use it in so many different ways.  I was buying it in bulk at Sam’s Club, and then when I’d run out, I would buy those little packets.  I found this recipe, and wow!  It’s GREAT!  I usually multiply it by 10 and store it in an old (BIG) container that had taco seasoning in it from Sam’s Club.

The nice thing about this recipe is that you can tweak it to your tastes.  You can add more or less pepper flakes, or substitute a little cayenne pepper.  You can use more or less of any of the ingredients to make it the way your family likes it.  We like it just as it is…or maybe a BIT hotter, and I often reduce the salt by a bit.

I generally use close to 3 tablespoons / pound of meat.  Try it.  You’ll never go back to store bought packets again.

Homemade Taco Seasoning (x 5 in 1st parenthesis)  (x 10 in second parenthesis)

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder  (5 T)                 (10 T)
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder  (1 1/4 t.)      (2 1/2 t.)
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder (1 1/4 t.)       (2 1/2 t.)
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (1 1/4 t)      (2 1/2 t.)
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano  (1 1/4 t.)       (2 1/2 t.)
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika (2 1/2 t.)                      (5 t.)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin  (7 1/2 t.)  (5 T)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (5 t.)                                   (10 t.)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper (5 t.)                         (10 t.)

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.  Use approximately 3 tablespoons in place of 1 taco seasoning packet.

The Sound of Music!

I LOVE The Sound of Music!  When Rachel told me that was going to be the school musical, I was thrilled!  She was happy to get the part of a nun (Sister Margaretta) and did an EXCEPTIONAL job!  Ron and I were SO impressed with her performance!  And she makes SUCH a cute nun!

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Hee, hee…Rachel and Katelyn just always make me laugh!  I love those girls!

Ethan also had a part in the play.  He was chosen to play Friedrich, one of the Von Trapp children. He did very well, as well!  We were quite pleased.  He did come home and tell us “everyone LAUGHED at me when I tried to sing “Good NIGHT” and couldn’t hit the high note!”  We told him to just try to ham it up and laugh at himself the next performance.  Which he did!  He had MULTIPLE costume changes!

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The Von Trapp “uniform”

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Pajamas, for the “thunderstorm” scene

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Play clothes, made out of the curtains

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A suit, for the evening dinner scene

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Back to the “uniform”

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back to the suit for the wedding

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and finally….the traveling clothes.

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GREAT JOB, Ethan!  We really enjoyed watching you perform!

And then there was Cameron.  He, also, had multiple roles.

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He started in the pit.

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Then he was a distinguished guest at the dinner party (an Austrian…I can’t remember his name)

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Then he was a Nazi.

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And…he ended up back in the pit.

Great job, Cameron!  You are a man of many talents, and I enjoyed watching your performance!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

S-F HS Graduation 2011

Congrats to the entire class of 2011, and a special congrats to Cameron!  He graduated on May 15, with honors.  We had a wonderful celebration with all the family and friends who could make it!

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Nathan, Caleb, Sue Ann, Madi, Ethan and Martha watched the ceremony from the bleachers, while Ron and I and Grandma Koch had floor seats!

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The “dramatic pause” for photos

Cameron and Tony exit the graduation ceremony

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A congratulatory hug from Rachel

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Cameron and Hayley

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Cameron and Madi

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Nathan

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the cake was DELICIOUS!

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quite the crowd at Plum Creek Golf Course!

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Ethan, Rachel, Cameron and Caleb

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Yes, I know…I need to NOT be in the back row anymore

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Caleb and Madi

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Cameron and Grandma K.

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Cameron, Madi and Aunt Sue Ann

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Cameron and Madi

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Aunt Martha, Cameron and Nathan.

Thanks to everyone who traveled so far to come help celebrate, and a huge thanks to all who worked so hard to help get this party pulled off!

And again, CONGRATS, Cameron!

Track 2011

Cameron had a HUGELY successful track season, which was a great way to finish his senior year!  He ran the mile and generally finished in the top half of the runners, sometimes closer to the front than others.

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crossing the finish line on his final mile race!

He was also a part of an AWESOME 4 x 800 team!  They made it to STATE!  Way to go, fellas!

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Brady, Dillon, Tony and Cameron

SF 4 x 800 State track

Prom

Backing up a little ways, ‘cause with all that has gone on in the past few months, I haven’t kept up with this blog very well.  I sure hope to do better now that (hopefully) things have settled down a bit.  We will see…no promises!

Cameron had his senior prom in April!  He looked “smashing” and I think that he and Hayley had a great time!

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Cameron and Hayley

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I told Cameron and Tony to “go stand in the corner so I can take your picture”.  They did.

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And then I made them turn around for a GOOD picture Smile

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And then Cameron and Tony and Danny made “an oreo”

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And then Tony did this…and I laughed REALLY hard!  Never a dull moment with these fellas around.  I think my life will be too quiet next year!

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Happy Prom night!