Our beachy vacation featured yummy meals at night. Dinner was always a highlight of the day — after hours of hard play in the sun and sand we were RAVENOUS when it came time to eat.

So one night we made beef tacos (customized for each person, of course) with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and salsa. But this time we made the taco meat with fajita seasoning. It was a little twist on the tried-and-true taco seasoning packet. Plus, I added my own minced onions.

Magnifique!

Oh yeah, I made a rice pilaf, too, to mix it up a little bit from the typical Spanish rice.  I added minced onions to that, too.  Mmmmm, oniony.

This was one meal EVERY person in our group enjoyed. And with 4 kids in the mix, that’s sayin’ something!!!

Thought I’d share a little sweepstakes I came across with you since if you’re reading this YOU probably love steaks and grilling as much as I do.

It’s the “So Close So Easy Sweepstakes” sponsored by Fox Sports Radio, Blue Rhino (you know, the propane people) and the Kansas City Steak Company.

Basically, you send them your contact info for a chance to win this awesome stuff:

• Gas grill
• Blue Rhino propane
• $500 Kansas City Steaks gift certificate
• Prize package from Fox Sports Radio

You can go here for all the particulars on how to enter. You don’t have to buy anything, but send in your entry by July 19th or you’re out of luck!!

If YOU win (and that means I don’t) you HAVE to let me know so you can gloat and I can secretly pierce little kabobs into your skull in my mind congratulate you.

May the best enter-er win!!!

We’re here in our beachy paradise and the smell of the salt water, the feel of the ocean breezes, the cool touch of the water makes this the most idyllic place on earth.

What could make it better, you ask?

Thanks for asking. Well, I had some steaks delivered right to our door here and they weren’t just any steaks. Oh, no. These were strip steaks in an onion and garlic rub.

My photo doesn’t do it justice, but see those little green flecks of heaven on the side of that luscious slice of beef? The aroma of oniony goodness while these babies were grilling was almost too much to bear.

I wanted to dive right into that first steak and not wait for anyone else. But I held myself back. And the wait was worth it.

These were really wonderful and a nice departure from the usual flavoring I use.

Here’s where I ordered these. Go get you some.

Just don’t expect the cool ocean breeze to come in the package. They haven’t figured out a way to UPS that yet.

And if they had . . . you’d better believe I would have already purchased the entire supply.

Bon appetit!