Homemade salsa is super easy to make and waaaaay better than most you’ll buy at the grocery store. Plus, you can make it exactly how you like it (spicier, milder, more lime, etc.). Whip up a batch of this salsa, buy the best tortilla chips you can find and invite some friend over! Homemade salsa is definitely a party pleaser!!!

If you can’t find serrano chiles, jalepenos will do just fine. Enjoy!

Note: I like Juanita’s Tortilla Chips…available in the Portland area

Pico de Gallo
-recipe courtesy Marcela Valladolid, Food Network

In Mexico, pico de gallo is used to describe a wide variety of regional salsas, which are always made with fresh cubed fruit and/or vegetables. The most common version is made with any red tomato, onion and green chiles and is sometimes called “salsa mexicana” or “salsa bandera,” because the colors in the salsa represent the Mexican flag. Makes 3 cups

1 1/2 pounds yellow or red tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 serrano chiles*, seeded and minced
Pinch kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl, and toss to combine. Cover and chill until ready to serve. This salsa can be made 4 hours ahead.

*The serrano chile is a fresh, small, green chile. Traditionally used in salsas it is slightly hotter than a jalapeno chile and can be found at most supermarkets, Latin specialty markets or online.

Tags: cilantro, homemade salsa, lime juice, Marcela Valladolid, onion, pico de gallo, salsa, serrano chile, tomatoes

Guacamole…so simple yet so incredibly delicious. The first time I had really great guacamole was at a resort in Tuscon, Arizona. The waiter made it at our table so, of course, we were impressed with the presentation: mashing the perfect avocado right before our very eyes in a molcajete, the traditional Mexican version of a mortar and pestle, then adding fresh tomato, chopped onion, a little garlic, cilantro, fresh lime and salt. It was amazing! 

A good batch of guacamole is hard to stop eating, especially when you serve it with fresh, locally-made tortilla chips. If you live in the Portland area, try Juanita’s brand tortilla chips. They’re made in Hood River and are the best grocery store tortilla chips I’ve ever had (available at many local markets). Some Mexican restaurants even sell freshly-made tortilla chips.

This recipe for guacamole is from Rick Bayless, the king of authentic Mexican cuisine. I prefer the luxurious version of this guac…it rocks!  As long as you start with good avocados, you pretty much can’t go wrong. For more on avocados, click here.

Guacamole Three Ways: Simple, Herby or Luxurious
Guacamole Tres Estilos
-recipe from Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless

“I gave up looking for “the one best guacamole” years ago. Because “the best” is only the best for a particular moment, a particular set of ingredients, a particular group of people and the role it plays in their eating or snacking. Which is why I’ve written this recipe in stages. I want you to have an easy-to-follow guide for making the perfect guacamole for a multitude of uses, a variety of occasions. So it starts with the simplest perfect mash of avocado, garlic and salt (I know many cooks in Mexico who think that adding anything to avocados but those two ingredients is a start on the road to ruin). This simple guacamole is a delicious condiment to spread on sandwiches or grilled meat tacos that are served with salsa. Adding cilantro and lime to the basic, garlicky guacamole gives it the pizzazz to stand alone—as a topping for crispy tacos or tostadas, even as a dip. Green chile, white onion and red tomato—do I need to point out that those are the colors of Mexico’s flag?—create a chest-thumping, look-at-me guacamole that’s perfect with a bowl of chips at a party where the music’s turned up and there are lots of laughs.” -Rick Bayless

Makes 1 ¼ to 1 ½ cups

2 medium ripe avocados
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped or crushed through a garlic press
Salt
To make it herby, add:
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
About 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
To make it luxurious, also add:
Fresh hot green chile to taste (I like 1 serrano or ½ to 1 jalapeño), finely chopped
¼ small white onion, finely chopped
½ medium tomato, chopped into ¼-inch dice

Cut the avocados in half, running your knife around the pit from stem to blossom end and back up again. Twist the halves in opposite directions to free the pits and pull the halves apart. Dislodge the pits, then scoop out the avocado flesh into a medium bowl.

Mash the avocado with a large fork or potato masher. Stir in the garlic and about ½ teaspoon salt, plus any other sets of ingredients you’ve chosen. If your list includes the white onion, rinse it first under cold water, then shake well to rid it of excess moisture, before adding to the avocado. (This reduces the risk of having onion flavor overwhelm the guacamole.) Taste and season with additional salt if appropriate. If not using immediately, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface of the guacamole and refrigerate—preferably not more than a few hours.

A Riff on “Stage Two” Guacamole: Replace the lime juice with (or, for extra-tangy guacamole, add along with the lime juice) about ½ cup homemade or bottled tomatillo salsa—perfect as a topping or a dip, especially when you need to make the guacamole ahead (the additional acid in the tomatillos helps keep the guacamole greener for longer).

Avocado Sauce: For a tangy sauce to drizzle over raw (or blanched) vegetables or on tacos, tostadas and the like, follow the above variation, increasing the tomatillo salsa to 1 cup; puree everything in a blender. If the sauce is too thick to drizzle, thin with additional tomatillo salsa. A little heavy cream, sour cream or crème fraiche can be added for wonderful richness.

Tags: avocado, cilantro, guacamole, Juanita's tortilla chips, lime, Mexican Everyday Cookbook, molcajete, onion, Rick Bayless, tomato

I love pork tenderloin because it’s difficult to mess up. This recipe for Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic-Cranberry Sauce is a perfect holiday dish because it’s easy, delicious, festive looking, and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed more people. The slightly sweet, slightly savory balsamic-cranberry sauce is a great compliment to the tender roasted pork.

It took longer than 2 minutes to get a good sear on the pork. To save time, you can start the sauce while the pork is browning. For the cranberry sauce, I used some leftover homemade Triple Cranberry Sauce which is lightly flavored with orange…it was perfect with the rosemary, onion and balsamic vinegar in the sauce. You could probably even make the sauce a day ahead to simplify things, then all you’d need to do is roast the pork, heat the sauce, and make a side dish or two. I served the tenderloin with bread stuffing and Green Beans with Caramelized Red Onion and Mushroom Topping.

Pork Tenderloin with Balsamic-Cranberry Sauce
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine, November 1998

To round out this menu, serve roasted squash, corn muffins and boiled green beans with orange zest. End with vanilla ice cream topped with warm chestnuts in syrup.

Yield: Serves 2, can be doubled

1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1 8- to 10-ounce pork tenderloin
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
1/3 cup canned whole berry cranberry sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 450°F. Melt 1/2 tablespoon butter in heavy large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper. Sear pork on all sides, about 2 minutes. Place skillet with pork in oven. Roast pork until thermometer inserted into center registers 155°F, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and rosemary; sauté until onion softens, about 3 minutes. Add broth, cranberry sauce and vinegar and whisk until cranberry sauce melts, about 2 minutes.

Transfer pork to work surface. Scrape any juices from large skillet into cranberry mixture. Boil until sauce has reduced enough to coat spoon thickly, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Slice pork and serve with sauce.

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Tags: balsamic cranberry sauce, balsamic vinegar, chicken broth, Christmas, cranberries, holidays, onion, pork tenderloin, whole berry cranberry sauce

I’m all about using up leftovers and finding creative uses for them. Potato Pancakes (or patties) are a great way to use up mashed potatoes. Even my Picky Eater liked these because he thought they tasted like french fries: crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside.

I used 1 large green onion (sliced) instead of the grated onion and 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley instead of the dried marjoram.

It took a few tries until I got the consistency and size of the pancakes perfect. I had the best luck with using a rounded soup spoon-full of potato mixture (about 2 tablespoons). Also, my mashed potatoes were very creamy so I had to add a few more tablespoons of flour to get a stiff enough texture…the first few were too mushy. Garnish each serving with a dollop of sour cream and you’re in business!

Mashed-Potato Pancakes
-recipe from Gourmet Magazine

Yield: Serves 6 to 8

2 cups mashed potatoes
1 large egg, beaten lightly
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons grated onion
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram, crumbled
1/3 cup chopped turkey liver if desired (I didn’t use)
vegetable oil for frying the pancakes

In a bowl combine well the potatoes and the egg, stir in the flour thoroughly, and stir in the onion, the marjoram, the liver, and salt and pepper to taste. In a large heavy skillet heat 1/8 inch of the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it fry heaping tablespoons of the potato mixture, flattening them slightly with the back of the spoon, for 1 minute on each side, or until they are golden brown. Transfer the pancakes as they are cooked to paper towels to drain and if desired keep them warm on a rack set on a baking sheet in a preheated 250°F. Serve the pancakes as an accompaniment to meat, poultry, or eggs.

Tags: egg, flour, leftovers, mashed potatoes, onion, potato pancakes, Thanksgiving leftovers

I got together with a group of girlfriends from my bible study on Friday to organize a friend’s garage. The friend we were helping is a mom of two young boys and her husband has been in the hospital for several months awaiting a heart transplant. Needless to say, it’s been a difficult season for this family, so a chilly, overcast November day was not going to deter us from the work we had set out to do. We were there to help a girlfriend, to let her know that she and her family are loved, and in some small way, to offer hope.

After we finished our project, we stood around the kitchen together eating a bowl of this Summer Minestrone with Pesto. Friends sharing life together and a hot bowl of soup…this is what it’s all about!

Now about the minestrone…I doubled the recipe so there would be plenty of soup for all of us. I used vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, russets instead of the red-skinned potatoes, diced canned tomatoes instead of fresh (28-oz can for double recipe), chopped kale instead of spinach, and extra carrots instead of green beans. About 10 minutes before serving, I added a little bit of uncooked pasta to the simmering soup which helped thicken it up a bit. Once the pasta was cooked, we ladled the piping hot soup into bowls and garnished each serving with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Yumm!

Summer Minestrone with Pesto
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

When a generous garnish of pesto gets stirred in, the soup turns a vibrant green and becomes perfumed with the intense and sweet aroma of basil mixed with garlic. Makes 6 servings.

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
6 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 carrots, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
2 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
4 small red-skinned potatoes, quartered
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
3 small zucchini, halved lengthwise, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney beans), drained
2 tomatoes, peeled, crushed
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, chopped
6 tablespoons pesto
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft, about 4 minutes. Add broth and next 7 ingredients. Increase heat to high and bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover pot, and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in spinach; simmer 3 minutes longer. Season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into 6 bowls; garnish each with 1 tablespoon pesto. Serve, passing cheese separately.

Tags: cannellini beans, carrots, celery, chicken broth, kale, minestrone, onion, parmesan cheese, pesto, potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, Vegetable, zucchini

Beef stew is always a favorite at my house. Sometimes I like to change it up by making Ranchero Beef Stew, a Spanish-inspired dish that features beef simmered with carrots, green chilies, tomatoes and green olives. It’s hearty, filling and and a nice change from traditional beef stew!

The recipe states that the stew only needs to simmer for 1 hour but I’m not sure in what universe they were cooking it in. I’ve never had stew meat get tender in an hour. Since I wanted the meat super tender (not chewy), I let the stew simmer for almost 3 hours. I served the stew over garlic mashed potatoes. YUMM! It was a perfect meal for a cool Autumn evening!
Optional: a teaspoon of cumin added to the simmering stew adds nice flavor to the final dish. 

Ranchero Beef Stew
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Traditional beef stew with Spanish overtones. It’s delicious over rice or pasta. Serves 4. 

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 large onion, cubed
2 medium carrots, cubed
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 15-to 16-ounce can stewed tomatoes
1 cup canned beef broth
1 4-ounce can diced green chilies
1/2 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed green olives (about 2 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Add to Dutch oven; sauté until brown, about 5 minutes. Add onion, carrots, and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, broth chilies, olives and oregano. Bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until beef is tender, about 1 hour (I simmered my stew for about 3 hours). Uncover; simmer until juices thicken, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in cilantro.

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Tags: beef broth, beef stew, carrots, cilantro, green chilies, green olives, onion, Spanish, tomatoes

This recipe for Pasta Bolognese is from a chef at the Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premiere culinary college. It’s rich, hearty, meaty and a perfect pasta dish for these cool, autumn evenings.

The recipe calls for 6 ounces of pancetta but my container only had 4 oz., so that’s what I used…I didn’t want to spend another $4 dollars for a few more ounces. Also, I used 1 lb. ground beef instead of a mixture of pork, beef and veal. Next time I’ll add sauteed mushrooms to the sauce, which would be a delicious addition. Serve with a big green salad or your favorite veggies and you’ve got yourself a meal. Enjoy!

Pasta Bolognese Epicurious
-recipe from Epicurious.com

This recipe was shared with Epicurious by Chef Joseph W. DiPerri of The Culinary Institute of America.

Yield: Makes 6 servings

2 (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes with juice or crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces pancetta or 6 slices bacon, finely chopped

1/4 pound ground pork (not lean)
1/4 pound ground beef chuck (not lean)
1/4 pound ground veal
1 small onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 carrot, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 cup dry red wine
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound small pasta such as orecchiette or rotini

Garnish: Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

If using whole tomatoes, in blender or food processor, purée tomatoes with juice. Set aside.

In large, heavy pot over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add pancetta and sauté until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add beef, pork, and veal and sauté, breaking up meat with back of spoon, until browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Add onion and carrot and sauté until vegetables are tender, 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in red wine and simmer, scraping up browned bits stuck to bottom of pan, until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, cream, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened and brick-red in color, approximately 30 minutes.

In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until almost tender. Drain well and toss with sauce. Serve with grated cheese.

Tags: Beef, carrot, heavy cream, Italian, meat sauce, onion, orecchiette, pancetta, pasta bolognese, pork, Quick Cooking, red wine, rotini, tomato sauce

I love trying new recipes and am intrigued by “twists” on classic dishes. For this reason, I wanted to try out this recipe for Spicy Grilled Chicken with Creamy Pumpkin Mole Sauce. Mole (pronounced mō-lā) is a type of sauce (or dish based on these sauces) that uses chili peppers as the common ingredient. Many moles are made up of over 20 ingredients. This simplified mole recipe is from award-winning chef Rick Bayless, who specializes in modern interpretations of traditional Mexican cuisine.

I really liked this mole. The pumpkin adds texture and creaminess without adding “pumpkin” flavor. I didn’t think it was that spicy, either, so don’t be afraid to try the recipe if you prefer mild foods (just use less chipotle chile). I used 1 large chipotle chile to make the mole and 2 chipotle chiles to make the glaze.  Next time I’d use 2 large chiptotles for the mole sauce. I served the dish with a mixture of steamed rice and corn. Yumm!

You could also turn this dish into really good enchiladas: corn tortillas, shredded chicken, jack cheese and the pumpkin mole sauce (instead of enchilada sauce).

I found the dried ancho chilesat Winco in the Mexican foods section. If you can’t find them in your grocery store, try a Latin American market or this link for ancho chiles.

Spicy Grilled Chicken with Creamy Pumpkin Mole Sauce
- recipe by Rick Bayless, Bon Appétit Magazine

Yield: Makes 8 servings

2 dried ancho chiles,* stemmed, seeded, torn into large pieces

4 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 3-inch-diameter slice white onion (1/2 inch thick), separated into rings
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 5x3x1/2-inch-thick slice country white bread, crust trimmed
3/4 cup drained canned diced tomatoes

3 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth
4 canned chipotle chiles*

1 cup canned pure pumpkin
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar

8 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
Fresh cilantro sprigs
Lime wedges

Heat heavy large pot over medium heat. Add chile pieces; toast until aromatic and lighter in color around edges, pressing with potato masher or back of fork and turning pieces, about 2 minutes. Set aside one 2-inch piece of chile for garnish; transfer remaining pieces to medium bowl. Cover chiles in bowl with hot water; soak until soft, about 30 minutes.

In same large pot, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add onion rings and garlic. Sauté until brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to processor, leaving oil in pot. Add bread slice to pot; cook until golden, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer bread to processor (reserve pot). Add tomatoes to processor. Puree mixture until smooth. Transfer tomato puree to small bowl (do not clean processor).

Drain ancho chiles and place in processor. Add 1/2 cup broth and 2 chipotle chiles. Puree until smooth.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to reserved pot. Heat over medium-high heat. Add ancho chile puree; cook until puree thickens and darkens, stirring often, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add tomato puree. Simmer until thick, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Whisk in pumpkin and 3 cups broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until mole thickens and reduces to 3 1/3 cups, about 30 minutes. Whisk in cream and sugar. Season to taste with salt.

Puree 2 tablespoons oil and 2 chipotle chiles in small processor or force through sieve to make thick glaze. Transfer to bowl. (Mole and glaze can be made 3 days ahead. Cover separately and chill.)

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Rewarm mole. Spread chipotle glaze thinly over both sides of chicken breasts. Sprinkle chicken generously with salt. Grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to plates. Spoon mole over each. Crumble reserved ancho chile piece; sprinkle over chicken. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and lime.

*Dried ancho chiles and chipotle chiles canned in a spicy tomato sauce, sometimes called adobo, are available at Latin American markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

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Tags: ancho chiles, bbq, chipotle chiles, grilled chicken, Mexican, mole, onion, pumpkin, Southwestern, tomatoes

If you like mushrooms, you’re going to LOVE this risotto! Like all risotto recipes, it does take some effort but, boy, is it worth it: it’s hearty, earthy and delicious!

I basically followed the recipe with a few minor substitutions. I used turkey Italian sausage and substituted Marsala wine for the Madeira. For the mushrooms, I used 6 oz. portobello, 8 oz. crimini and 4 oz. shiitake…a total of 18 ounces. I sauteed the onion and garlic in 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) of butter instead of a whole stick. If you can’t find Asiago cheese, just use Parmesan. A drizzle of truffle oil would put this risotto over the top!

Italian Sausage and Wild Mushroom Risotto
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine from Tuscany, Salt Lake City, UT

At the restaurant, this dish is served as a starter. It would also make a great main course for four. Makes 8 first-course servings.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Italian sweet sausage, casings removed, crumbled into 1/2-inch pieces
8 ounces portobello mushrooms, stemmed, dark gills scraped out, caps diced
10 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, diced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1 1/2 cups Madeira (I used Marsala)

6 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (I used 1/2 stick, or 4 tablespoons)
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups arborio rice or other medium-grain rice (about 13 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and sauté until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add all mushrooms, thyme, and oregano and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup Madeira; boil until almost absorbed, about 1 minute. Set aside.

Bring stock to simmer in large saucepan; remove from heat and cover to keep hot. Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice; stir 2 minutes. Add remaining 1 cup Madeira; simmer until absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup hot stock; simmer until almost absorbed, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Continue to cook until rice is just tender and mixture is creamy, adding more stock by cupfuls, stirring often and allowing most stock to be absorbed before adding more, about 25 minutes. Stir in sausage mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl. Pass cheese separately.

Tags: arborio, Asiago cheese, chicken broth, Italian, italian sausage, Madeira, Main Dish, Marsala, onion, oregano, portobello mushrooms, rice, risotto, shiitake mushrooms, Side Dish, thyme, wild mushrooms

Now that we’re heading into Autumn, it’s time to start hauling out the comfort food recipes!!! Chile Mac, a simple and comforting dish, is nothing fancy but it is a good, quick weeknight dinner. Plus, it’s fairly inexpensive to make and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.

I usually use beef broth instead of chicken broth, and I like to add a little more chili powder and cumin. Sometimes I use fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles to add a little more zip. Corn would be a nice addition, too. I garnish each serving with shredded cheddar or jalapeno jack cheese, or a dollop of sour cream. Serve with a big green salad. Enjoy!

Chili Mac
-recipe from The New Boston Globe Cookbook by Sheryl Julian

A great kids’ dish, this mixture of ground beef and macaroni, cooked together with tomatoes and a few spices, makes a fine weeknight meal. Serves 4.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pound lean ground beef
8 ounces elbow macaroni
1 can (16 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
2 cups chicken stock
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Extra grated cheddar (for serving)

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil and when it is hot, cook the onion, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until lightly browned and softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

Add the ground beef and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes or until browned and cooked through.

Add the macaroni, tomatoes, stock, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir well. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and cover the pan. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until liquid is mostly absorbed and macaroni is tender but still has some bite.

Add the cheese and stir just until melted. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, if you like. Serve with extra cheddar.

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Tags: cheddar cheese, chicken stock, chili powder, crushed tomatoes, cumin, ground beef, macaroni, onion, Pasta, Quick Cooking