The carrots add mellowness and color while the raisins are a nice blast of sweetness in an otherwise spicy dish.

Ingredients:
2 TB unsalted butter
about 2lbs beef, cubed about 1 inch
1/2 lb finely grated carrots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp homemade garlic powder OR 4 fresh cloves, finely diced or pressed (see this video for easy peeling)
2 tsp ginger powder OR 2 Tbsp fresh root, finely minced
2 tsp black cumin seed (kala jeera)
3 tsp homemade garam masala
1 tsp homemade chili powder
1 cup rich yoghurt
1/2 cup water

Directions:
1. Melt butter in large pan over medium high heat.
2. Sautee beef cubes till browned, remove from pan and set aside.
3. Add all spices to pan and cook for 2 minutes to release flavors.
4. Add a little water to pan to de-glaze and scrape up pan brownings well.
5. Return beef to pan and add remaining ingredients.
6. Allow to come back to a simmer and reduce heat.
7. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until beef is cooked through.
8. Adjust salt to taste.

Note: Like all Indian dishes, this one will improve over time. The flavors will develop in your fridge over night and be even better the next day.

All the taco goodness without the corn. The Napa cabbage provides the alternate crunch and makes it easy to handle.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chuck
1 tsp salt
2-1/2 tsp homemade chili powder for mild, 1-1/2 T for hotter
2 cloves garlic, finely minced (see this video for easy peeling)
1 small yellow onion, finely diced
Napa Cabbage

Directions:
1. Brown beef and onions then drain excess fat.
2. Add salt, chili powder and garlic and simmer for 5 minutes, adding a little water if necessary to incorporate spices.
3. Serve on Napa cabbage leaves with your choice of toppings. The Napa cabbage is sturdy enough to pick up the taco and not fall apart.

Toppings:
Rich yoghurt (in place of sour cream)
Cheddar cheese
Chili Sauce
A Fresher Salsa
Cilantro
Slices of avocado
A Fresher Guacamole
Tabasco sauce (only the original red – read the labels)

Might I suggest some refried beans to go with that?

The meat freezes well.

Ingredients:
1 lb. (about 2 cups) red kidney beans
1 lb. (about 2 cups) navy beans
1 bay leaf
1/3 cup lard
1 large yellow onion, diced. Do not use sweet onions!
5 cloves garlic, crushed (see this video for easy peeling)
2 Tbs homemade chili powder
2 tsp salt
2 Tbs dried oregano
1 Tbs ground cumin

Directions:
1. Carefully sort through the dry beans to check for debris.
2. Soak beans in water for 24 hrs, changing the water about half way through. The beans will expand by a factor of about 3, so use a large bowl well filled to keep the beans submerged.
3. Rinse beans well.
4. Put beans and bay leaf in large pot and cover with water by 1-2 inches.
6. Bring to a boil then down to a strong simmer. Cook for 1 – 2 hours until the beans are tender, adding water as necessary to keep beans just covered.
7. Mash beans. A potato masher works well.
8. In a second large pot melt lard and add onions, cooking on medium heat just until they begin to brown, about 15 minutes.
9. Add garlic and spices to onion and cook a few minutes more to allow spices to come alive.
10. Add mashed beans to onion mixture and stir will.
11. Continue cooking beans if necessary to reduce to a thick paste. If the beans are too thick add water a little at a time. Be careful though, nobody likes runny beans.

Yield 12 cups. Freezes well.

Perhaps you’d like some tacos to go with that?

An excellent accompaniment to all things mexican. Try with refried beans or tacos.

Ingredients:
4 quarts home-canned tomato OR 8 pounds fresh, cored and peeled
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tsp salt
3 cloves garlic (see this video for easy peeling)
3 Tb homemade chili powder

Directions:
1. Puree tomato and garlic in blender.
2. Put all ingredients into large pot.
3. Bring to a strong simmer.
4. Simmer for about 3-1/2 hours to thicken to desired consistency, stirring occasionally to avoid burning.

This chili sauce preserves well with canning. Make a lot and enjoy year round.

Yields about 2 quarts.

Ingredients:
2 -3 lbs chicken cut into chunks (important note)
1/2 stick unsalted butter
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
2/3 cup water

Sauce:
2 Tbsp fresh ginger root, finely chopped
2 Tbsp garlic, pressed or finely chopped (see this video for easy peeling)
4 tsp homemade garam masala
1-1/2 tsp homemade chili powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp black cumin seeds
1 tsp cardamom, crushed
2 tsp ground coriander
1-1/3 cup rich yoghurt

Directions:
1. Melt butter in large saucepan and sauté onions until golden brown.
2. Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl, mixing till well combined.
3. Add chicken to onions and sauté for another 5 minutes.
4. Add water and sauce to pan and stir well.
5. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is done and sauce is thick enough for your tastes.

Serve alone, or over steamed broccoli.
Serves 4-6.

Notes:

Cooking yoghurt will kill the bacteria so don’t consider the yoghurt in this recipe as a probiotic.