this is cooking not baking so jazz it up! i only ask that if you add beans or tomatos, please don't tell me. as always, cast iron is ideal cookware. if you rub your eyes without remembering to wash your hands first the traditional treatment method is to have your auntie run over and rub her hair in your eye

ingredients:

• olive oil
• soup stock (typically beef)
• unsweetened cocoa powder (not cocoa mix, unsweetened cocoa powder for baking)
• chili peppers, preferably roasted (roast peppers create a bewitching alchemy with the cocoa powder. my favorites are anchos followed by guajilos)
• ground chuck in 1 inch cubes (if you plan to make this an omnivorous dish, this is the top pick for protein. the more marbly, the more it will melt on your tongue)
• white onion
• garlic
• herbs & spices: salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, brown sugar, dash of cinnamon, dash of paprika, dash of cayenne, dash of shiner bock
• optional: masa or cornmeal as thickener

toppings: shredded cheese (or plant-based substitute), pickled jalapeño slices, diced green onion

sides: pot of beans (i like pintos, butterbeans, & black-eyed peas), cornbread, grilled or fried okra, steamed leafy greens, frito pie, hushpuppies

mignardise: café con leche & kolaches

directions:

• 1. de-stem and de-seed your peppers. if you don't have access to a food processor, you'll want to dice these beforehand. leave them to soak in your soup stock until they are soft. this may take a while! this is a good time to dice your onion & garlic or prepare toppings/sides. after they are soaked you can puree everything in a food processor to make a paste
• 2. make a roux with your olive oil and cocoa powder. set aside. it isn't necessary to completely clean the pan
• 3. brown your beef (i go ahead and add cumin here & a dash of salt. also a good time to add the shiner if you plan on doing so). set aside beef & save the liquid
• 4. sauté white onion in beef liquid until translucent. add garlic and sauté for another minute.
• 5. now the fun part! add roux, beef, and chili paste. if it is too thick, add soup stock. if too runny, add masa or cornmeal (to prevent the cocoa powder from pushing out the other flavors). add your spices to taste. add brown sugar gradually as tx recipes tend to overdo it a tinch
• 6. simmer, stirring only on occasion (if you like, you can whisper the lyrics to choctaw bingo over the pan during this step)
• 7. serve & enjoy!