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Friday, June 19, 2015

New Mexico Chili con Carne




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:
Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

5 comments:

  1. This would certainly be warming. It's freezing here today.

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  2. Will put this away til winter. It's suppossed to be 90+ and with the heat index=100. :-) Great post.

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    Replies
    1. Maybe a cool salad and a glass of iced tea! Thanks for commenting!

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  3. Thank you for the delicious recipe. The first crisp, Fall day, I am dishing this up!

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