Taco Soup

This is a shout out to college. The hungry days. The boy and I dated while I was in college, and he was working. Still, those "ends," you know the ones...they didn't really meet. One Christmas, his parents gave us all of their canned food. I remember driving back from Boise, after we had carefully stacked 4 full boxes of canned food across the back seats of my beat-up car, and I felt like I had some seriously precious cargo. We ate those cans for months. Thanks, Mom and Dad M.!

One of my delightful college roommates, to whom I owe much accomplishment, growth, sanity, health, and entertainment, "the little Erin," introduced us to the magic of taco soup. Now, it seems to me that most every mom has served taco soup to her children, particularly if you live in Utah. But I had never come across this magical food at the time, and it served several desperate college needs.

1. It is seriously cheap to make.
2. It is filling.
3. It has elements of nutrition - rare in those days of yes-I-will-have-seconds-of-cupcakes-at-this-work-meeting-because-I-don't-get-meals.
4. It was the perfect use for the Christmas cans I cherished.

And so, I give you my (gluten free, even though it already was) variation on Erin's Mom's Taco Soup. By the way, this is great for company. I make it whenever my parents are coming over, and my dad always has seconds :).


Taco Soup

1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 cup onion
2 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans corn (I like the low-sodium stuff)
1 can kidney beans, washed and drained*
1 can black beans, washed and drained*
1 packet McCormick taco seasoning (or about 1/4 cup if you buy the giant canister of it like I do)

* Rinsing the beans removes some of the added sodium, and washing off the thick, beany starch on the outside makes for happier bean-eaters. I like to dump mine in a colander and wash them under running water until they are no longer foamy.

In a giant soup pot, brown ground beef with onions. Drain beef. Season with fresh cracked pepper. When the beef is fully cooked, add tomatoes, corn and beans. Heat up until simmering. Add taco seasoning. Let the boy stir - he likes that. Serve with shredded cheese on top.