Tacos with Homemade Seasoning

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I have made tacos since I was a kid.  It was always a store bought seasoning packet and following the directions on the package.  These directions usually involved browning your meat, skimming the fat, adding the seasoning and water, and simmering.  When I started making my own homemade seasoning about a year ago, I found it to be just as simple, but better.  Recently, I observed a new method of preparing the ground beef.  Boiling the meat, not frying the meat.  It sounds gross to say "boil the meat", but the resulting flavors and textures are contradictory.  It is now the preferred method for making more authentic taco meat in my kitchen.  

Ingredients

Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt or 1/2 teaspoon of regular table salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (can adjust according to taste)
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1. In a small bowl, mix together the seasoning ingredients.  Can be stored in an airtight container

Taco Meat

1 lb. lean ground beef

3 tablespoons taco seasoning

1 1/2 to 2 cups of water

Taco shells of choice

Toppings of choice for tacos

1. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add ground beef, taco seasoning, and water.  Break the meat up with a spoon, and allow to simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until all of the water has evaporated.
2. Serve on taco shells of choice with toppings.

Notes:

• The taco seasoning recipe makes about two taco meat recipes.  I store the seasoning in an airtight container for up to a month.  After a month, it begins to loose its flavor.  
• The taco meat can be used for other dishes such as nachos, burritos, or enchiladas.  
• When preparing the ground beef, I will often run a knife through it to break it up before cooking it.  It makes it more tender.  

Photo from: http://lutongpinas.com/tag/ground-beef-tacos/