Bonny
Bryant, the main character in my novel, Land of My Dreams, accomplishes the admirable
feat of getting her Scottish boyfriend to love New Mexican food. One of their
favorite meals is her Chili con Carne. It’s perfect in any weather!
Many
people and locations claim recipes to Chili con Carne. Being a native New
Mexican, I am a self-confessed Chili snob. (I am certain Shirley Raye Redmond
will agree!) Making Chili con Carne the New Mexican way requires a lot more
chili heat than you will find elsewhere. This requires using chili powder from
Bueno or a New Mexican supplier that comes in sandwich size bags, not just the
little bottles found in the spice section of the grocery store. Another
ingredient that New Mexicans would never use is black beans. Beans for truly
great chili have to be pinto beans.
It
is possible to cook Chili con Carne in a pot on the stove for a couple of hours
and come out with passable results, but to have the best possible results, I
suggest a slow cooker.
1
Medium onion, chopped
2
cloves of garlic, minced
2
pounds of ground beef, browned and drained (I prefer certified organic from
Costco.)
4
cans of tomato sauce
32
oz. of cooked Pinto beans, either dry boiled until soft, or if in a hurry use
two 16 oz. cans
Red
chili powder to taste – How much will depend on the type, heat rating, and your
own taste
Water
– add to desired consistency
Salt
to taste
Grated
Cheddar cheese sprinkled on top
Flour
tortillas to be served on the side
Brown
ground beef with onion and garlic and drain.
In
large crockpot, mix together 4 - 8 oz. cans of tomato sauce, 32 oz. of pinto
beans, red chili powder, and salt. Add browned ground beef mixture, add water
to correct consistency. Cook on low for 4-8 hours, stirring occasionally and
adding more water if necessary.
Serve
hot with grated Cheddar cheese sprinkled on top and a flour tortilla on the
side.
About Land of My Dreams:
An
American college professor struggling for faith and finding love when she lease
expects it. Land of My Dreams travels
from New Mexico’s high desert mountains to the misty Scottish Highlands with a
story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith. Contemporary
Christian Romance.
About the author:
Norma
Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April
2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals,
poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and
in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers,
FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian
Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her
husband of 39 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with
Norma:
Book Links:
Barnes
& Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173
Lighthouse
Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/
This would certainly be warming. It's freezing here today.
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite on cold days!
DeleteWill put this away til winter. It's suppossed to be 90+ and with the heat index=100. :-) Great post.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a cool salad and a glass of iced tea! Thanks for commenting!
DeleteThank you for the delicious recipe. The first crisp, Fall day, I am dishing this up!
ReplyDelete