Irish Tacos and Taco Seasoning

Ingredients

• 4-6 baking potatoes, washed and pricked with a fork to let out steam
• 1 lbs ground beef (or ground turkey, chicken, pork, etc.)
• Toppings: butter
• salt and pepper
• grated cheese
• shredded lettuce
• diced tomatoes
• sour cream
• Taco Seasoning:
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp seasoned salt (like Lawrys)
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder- or 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
• a few dashes of chipotle chili powder (optional)
• 2 tsp dehydrated onion, or 1/4 fresh onion, minced

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash potatoes, and prick them with a fork in several places. This allows the steam to escape during the baking process. Place potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake for 45-65 minutes until they are tender. Optional- you can rub a little oil (vegetable, canola, etc.) on the potato skins, and/ or just wrap the potatoes in tin foil if you prefer a softer skin. Baking times should be the same.
2. While potatoes are cooking, brown the ground meat in a frying pan. Add all the seasonings and ingredients for the Taco Seasoning recipe (above) to the meat when the meat is about half pink, half brown. Continue to cook until no pink remains, and meat is fully cooked. Set aside.
3. Prep all the toppings. Shred the lettuce and set aside. Dice the tomatoes, grate the cheese, etc.
4. When potatoes are fork tender (a fork can easily pierce the skin and flesh of the caked potato), cut a slit down the center of the potato, long wise. With your fingers, squish the ends of the potato and push toward the center to make the potato open up and for a cavity to hold the toppings.
5. Spread butter on the inside, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, then mash with a fork to mix into the potato flesh. Top with cooked taco meat, grated cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sour cream. Serve immediately.