PEDERNALES RIVER CHILI

This is a chili that was created by Lyndon Baines Johnson. I made it recently for some of my family and they liked it, hope you will too. During these colder days that are coming, it will hit the spot.

PEDERNALES RIVER CHILE

INGREDIENTS:

3 chopped onions
2 gloves garlic, finely minced
2 tablespoons oil or bacon drippings
4 pounds of beef, cut into 1" cubes ( I used round steak)
1 teaspoon oregano
2 teaspoons cumin
2 tablespoons chili powder, or more to taste
4 cups tomatoes, fresh frozen or canned. (I used canned diced tomatoes)
2 cups hot beef stock
1/3 cup masa harina

In a large sauce pan saute' onions and garlic in oil or bacon drippings, until tender and translucent. I put this in a larger pot so that I would not have a problem fitting my other ingredients together.

In the sauce pan you have just empted, add the meat, breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon. Saute', stirring often, until lightly cooked---no red showing.

Sprinkle in the oregano, crused cumin and chili powder. Stir to blend. Add to larger pot.

Add the tomatoes, salt and hot beef stock or water to the pot. Stir in masa harina. Bring to a boil, At this point I put it all into my crock pot and put it on low for one hour and then on warm until we got ready to eat it. My husband loved it. It was not too much fat.

Before you serve the chili, or one of the times you choose to give it a stir, taste and see if it is seasoned according to your liking with the oregano, cumin and chili powder. I added a little more of each especially the chili powder. You know what you like just add a little at a time until you like the taste. Not too much at a time because you might not be able to correct an over amount. Just take your time and add a little at a time. Grandma


* I think this would be a good chili for people who are watching their weight to eat. Depending on the beef that you use and the oil there is nothing in it that would have more calories that you would need for a meal. You can make it as thick as you like by adding more of the masa harina.

* It would go good with corn bread or crackers. Weight watchers might want to leave off the bread part unless you count it with your points.