This may sound silly to some, but I am always surprised when I mention this little cooking tip to people. Some people already do it; some are amazed! It is such a time saver and flavor booster that it is well worth writing a quick article about.

You know those little packets of taco seasoning you can buy at the store? You know the ones. They cost about 50 cents each for store brands and a bit more for name brands. You open them toss them on some ground beef and make tacos. Yep, you know what I am talking about.

Well here are five more things you can do with these packets rather than just make tacos:

1. Use a packet to season your next batch of hamburger patties or even your neat meatloaf. Use ground beef or even ground turkey. Mix in the seasoning packet, some onion and even some crushed tortilla chips. Serve your burgers or meat loaf topped with salsa.

2. Speaking of salsa: in a bowl, combine a chopped onion, add some dice tomatoes, rinsed black beans, diced bell peppers, diced hot peppers if desired, some lemon juice and your packet of taco seasoning. Cover and chill. You can add some hot sauce for an added boost! Ally and I use this method for chips and veggies as well as a great topping for grilled pork chops.

3. Dip. I said dip above, but here is something besides homemade salsa. Try a homemade Tex-Mex creamy dip. Combine 1/2 of a packet of taco seasoning with a large container of sour cream, some chopped onion, minced garlic, a dash of hot-sauce and a few spoonfuls of homemade salsa. I’ve even stirred in spinach on occasion.

4. Did I mention ribs yet? A packet of taco seasoning adds lots of flavor in the form of a pre-made rub. Try it for your next rib-a-thon. I rub them down with the seasoning, after I remove the membrane, and wrap them in cling wrap overnight. The ribs soak up the seasoning and are ready to cook! Don’t forget to remove the cling wrap. This rub idea works great for chicken, steaks, pork and even as a seasoning for shrimp!

5. Ever had that thick sauce at a Mexican restaurant that has that deep taste and the slight hint of chocolate? That’s a mole sauce. Here is a quick and easy cheating method. In a sauce pan combine a cup and a half of water with your taco seasoning packet. Cook until the water begins to boil. Stir in a teaspoon of flour and a few squares of chocolate. Not too much. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the chocolate is dissolved and flour is mixed in. Serve hot as a dipping sauce or drizzled over your food like they do at your favorite restaurant.

Have fun in the kitchen and at the grill! Ally and I are getting ready to do some lighter fare menus. I will pass those along this summer.

Kent Whitaker is the winner of the Emeril Live Barbecue contest, cookbook writer and children’s author. His books, “Tennessee Hometown Cooking,” “Checkered Flag Cooking,” “Smoke In The Mountains BBQ,” “Big Mo’s Tennis Ball Hunt,” and “Why Are The Mountains Smoky?” are available at bookstores or online. Visit thedeckchef.com for more information and e-mail Kent and Ally Whitaker your cooking questions and recipe suggestions.

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