Food & Cooking

Home Made Spice Mix for Delicious Chili

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Chili would not exist without generations of native Central and South Americans. The word “chili” comes from the ancient Aztec language Nahuatl, among other words. Ancient Peruvians cultivated modern beans from a wild mountain vine, and Aztecs domesticated the chili pepper and tomatoes over 7000 years ago.

Bernardino de Sahagún described a pepper-seasoned stew consumed by the Aztecs in 1529 at the capital Tenochtitlan, modern-day Mexico City. Spanish conquistadors introduced beef to the recipe, but some augment with bison, venison, turkey, or beans. Chili is gluten-free and vegan without meat.

Recipe: Standard Chili Seasoning

• 1 tbsp chili powder.
• 1 tsp cumin.
• 1/4 tsp cayenne.
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder.
• 1/2 tsp onion powder.
• 1 tsp salt.
• 1/4 tsp black pepper.

Slow stew beans, tomato, and cooked meat for several hours. Stir periodically.

By JMHeatherly