This summer we have been so busy and we have been gone more than we have been home (I was home exactly 4 days during the month of July when I wasn’t traveling!) so I have been bad about the grocery shopping and keeping food on hand to make meals. With back to school right around the corner I need to get my pantry back in order so that I have a plan for food each night to feed my kids.

I don’t do a daily menu. I have the kids help me choose 5 meals for the week and when we do our weekly shopping I get everything for those 5 dinners. I do not set a certain meal for a certain day beforehand. If I do that I tend to change my mind and I am NEVER in the mood for that meal on that day. I don’t know if it is just me, but if I plan a set meal calendar then I never stick to it so this way I know that I have all the ingredients for these meals and I can make whatever I am in the mood for each night. Also, I am a daily shopper. I know, bad me. I like to get things like bread, and fresh fruits and vegetables on the day that I need them for a recipe so that they are fresh. When I was growing up living in Europe you shop daily for all of your food because they don’t put preservatives in the food so you have to get it fresh daily. I loved it, and so I still do it as often as possible. Going to the deli, and bakery each day that I need something so that I can get it fresh is how I like to do my shopping.

Back To School Tacos

We are a busy family with 4 kids and 2 working parents so school nights seem to fly by. Between practice after school, rehearsals, and lessons it can get crazy. So I need fast dinners that I can get on the table with little to no prep beforehand for the busy nights. One of our main go to meals each week (yes every week) is tacos. It is something that everyone enjoys and we can mix it up by using beef, chicken, steak, or beans so it is almost like a new meal each time.

I have a basic taco seasoning recipe that I use (but I do keep a few of those store-bought packets on hand when I am out of something; I just make sure and get the low sodium kind).

Taco Seasoning

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1.5 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 to 1 tsp sea salt (more or less to taste)
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 /4 tsp onion powder

Shake it all up together in a little bowl with a lid.

After your meat is cooked, drain any grease and drippings (I also rinse my meat), add the meat back to the pan, 2 or 3 tablespoons of the taco seasoning, and 3/4 cup water per 1 pound of meat. Simmer for 10 minutes and you are done.

We like to serve rice, beans, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and olives with our tacos.

We also serve chips and salsa for everyone to snack on while we get the food ready to go.

Final product usually looks something like this:

Do you like that taco stand? Yeah, I LOVE it. I first saw these taco stands when I was in DC going to dinner with friends that were visiting from out-of-town. We went to El Centro on 14th St NW. I ordered tacos and they came on this awesome little stand, and I was obsessed with them. They are a convenient way to hold the soft taco shells (but they work for crunchy shells too) while you are making the tacos, and a cute way to serve them.

I obviously found the taco stands because I have them now. I was able to find them at a local store. Do you remember me telling you about SRS Restaurant Supply in Sterling, Virginia? I did the awesome crepe pan giveaway with them in June. I found the taco stands while shopping at SRS. SRS actually supplies them to El Centro in DC.

So SRS and I have teamed up to get some more of their awesome goods into YOUR hands! I LOVE these taco stands so much that they are letting me share some with you. They have graciously given me A Set of 4-D&V® Taco Stands (8 ¼” Brushed Finish Stainless Steel) to do a giveaway!

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter below! Winner will be picked and announced on my Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as here on Saturday, August 16! I will contact you for your address so I can send you your awesome taco stands. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 *I was not given any financial compensation for writing this post. SRS supplied me with the giveaway items. All opinions are my own, as always.