Taco Soup: Prepping for Fall

 

I've had to get used to a lot since moving to Arizona. Scorpions, the lack of natural greenery, the immense heat of the summer: all of these have presented their own challenges in one way or another and I have risen to them all. The one that continually stymies me is figuring out when it switches to real cool weather around here and stays that way. I thought I had it figured out last year. October. Just hold out until October and you will be rewarded richly. However last year we had a record number of days in October with highs in the nineties. By November it still wasn't cold and I was still staring longingly at my cold weather clothes and recipes.  This year, I don't care. Labor Day has passed, which means summer is over, which means it's basically fall.  It is time for soup and chili and hot chocolate and blankets and the best way to kick this off is with one of my favorite (and super simple) soup recipes: Taco Soup!

 

While you do have to brown ground beef and this does have to simmer for an hour, once you bang it all into a pot, it's really virtually no hands-on time and, perhaps best of all, a one pot meal! Fortunate enough to be cold? You'll need:

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cans cream corn
2 cans corn
2 cans original Rotel
2 cans ranch-style beans
1 can water (pick your favorite can that could use a good rinsing)
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 packet taco seasoning

Grab a BIG pot (this makes a lot). Brown the meat and drain the grease and fats. Over high heat, pour in all the remaining ingredients and stir as it starts to bubble. Once it's reached something close to a boil, lower the heat and let it simmer for one hour, stirring when you think about it. You can serve this over rice or crumbled crackers or, as I do, just topped with shredded cheese!
I hope you give it a try! It's warm and filling and great for chasing away the cold weather if you've got any around!

What are your favorite cold weather recipes?  Let me know in the comments!  Like this post?  Sharing is caring!