National Chili Day February 26 2016

Today is National Chili Day and Mother Nature couldn’t have planned the drastic drop in temperature here in the Northeast any better! After all, what’s better than sitting down to a large bowl of chili when the weather outside is well, chilly?

Before we get into a delicious chili recipe though, we thought it would be a good idea to let you know what to look for when shopping for the main ingredient - ground beef. Ground beef is usually made from the leftover trimmings of steaks, roasts and other cuts of beef. It is commonly differentiated by its lean-to-fat ratio - if you’ve ever noticed “80/20, 85/15, or 90/10” you know what we’re talking about. For example, “80/20” means the meat is made up of 80% lean beef and 20% fat, so if you’re looking for minimal fat intake, look for a 90/10 option. Just keep in mind that when cooked, leaner meat tends to dry out quicker.

We recommend looking for the USDA “certified organic” label. This means the livestock was raised on organic, pesticide-free feed farms with access to pasture. There’s also no antibiotics or growth hormones.

One more important thing to look for when buying ground beef is the color of the meat. It should be a nice “cherry red” color but don’t be alarmed if you notice some brown when you open the package.

The Recipe (Serves 6-8)

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1 8-oz can of tomato sauce
• 2 tbsp. La Flor chili powder
• 1 tsp. La Flor cumin
• 1 tsp. La Flor oregano
• 1 tsp. La Flor sea salt
• ¼ tsp. La Flor cayenne pepper
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 can black beans
• Shredded cheddar
• Chopped onions
• Tortilla chips

Directions

In a large pot, place ground beef and garlic. Cook over medium heat until the meat browns and then add tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, sea salt and cayenne pepper. Let the mixture simmer for about an hour and then add beans and simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Serve with shredded cheddar, chopped onions and tortilla chips for dipping!

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform National Chili Day into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy, America!

Winter Foods To Warm You Up February 02 2016

What’s better than coming inside to a warm bowl of soup after spending hours out in the cold? Not much if you ask us. Although we’ve seen drastic swings in temperatures so far this winter, we know the cold weather will rear its head once again. But don’t worry, these winter recipes will help warm up your bones and your appetite this season:

Lots of people - especially those who work full-time - find themselves ripping through the cabinets to put together some sort of meal during the week. Or they simply order out. Weeknight dinners don’t have to be so stressful, or so expensive, if you just plan ahead. And most of these recipes can be prepared in an hour or less so that “I don’t have enough time to cook a meal” excuse won’t work here.

1. Butternut Squash Soup: Sit down a bowl of piping hot creamy butternut squash soup. If this doesn’t warm you up, we don’t know what will. Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1PSxNYF
   La Flor products needed: La Flor Cayenne Pepper, La Flor Black Pepper
2. Spaghetti With Turkey Chili: Combine two winter staples, spaghetti and chili, and you have yourself a meal you won’t want to stop eating. Pile your plate high and top it off with sour cream and hot sauce to give your taste buds a kick. Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1PSxZY1
   La Flor products needed: La Flor  Sea Salt, La Flor Don Diego Special Habanero Blend
3. Four Cheese Pasta With Ham and Peas: Creamy pasta. Ham. Cheese. What more do you need? Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1nAoLTE
   La Flor products needed: La Flor Sea Salt, La Flor Black Pepper
4. Chicken Cordon Bleu: This quick and easy recipe takes the stress and time out of the traditional meal, yet it still tastes amazing! Recipe Here: http://bit.ly/1P3wumj
   La Flor products needed: La Flor Sea Salt, La Flor Black Pepper, La Flor Parsley Flakes

Spice Up Your Weekday Lunch January 12 2016

Turkey sandwich - bland. PB&J - boring. Hot pocket - need we say more? For those of us battling with the daily 9 - 5, crafting a culinary masterpiece for lunch sounds like a terrible joke. But believe it or not, there are a bunch of ways you can take that boring brown bag and fill it with something you’ll actually look forward to after those morning meetings.

1. Chicken & Avocado Sandwich: take your boring turkey on white bread and kiss it goodbye. Substitute sliced turkey with cooked chicken breast, cut up a quarter of an avocado and a few slices of tomato and you’ve got yourself a simple, yet delicious sandwich. Add a pinch salt and a dash of pepper for some extra flavor and you can even take it to the next level by creating an herb mayo dipping sauce with our basil leaves.
2. Buffalo Chicken Salad: prefer a lighter lunch option? Put your own spin on a buffalo chicken salad by seasoning the chicken with our chili powder and cayenne pepper. Chop up some lettuce, add a few diced tomatoes and pack your favorite blue cheese dressing on the side.
3. Homemade Burrito Bowl: why order out when you’ve already got your own burrito bowl? This simple recipe calls for your favorite choice of rice, diced chicken or chop meat seasoned with some adobo picante, sour cream and shredded cheese. Load up a container with all of the above and you’ll surely make your coworkers jealous.

When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your lunch into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy, America!

#FoodieFriday - Chili Recipes for a Chilly Day October 02 2015

For our friends on Long Island and along the east coast - Joaquin may not be joining you for dinner tonight, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare some extra grub just in case.

Warm up with some of the below chili recipes - great for leftovers and sure to keep you warm all rainy, chilly weekend long.

Slow Cooker Chili - Can’t go wrong with a crock pot recipe! Slow cookers are the easiest way to get the richness of a long-simmering stovetop chili. Plus, by making your chili a day or 2 in advance allows for the flavors to continue developing while sealed tight in the refrigerator. (Recipe here ») 

Vegetarian Chili - Packed with vegetables, beans, and tons of flavor this meatless option can be made stove top and is sure to satisfy meat eaters and vegetarians alike! (Recipe here ») 

Cincinnati Chili - Warm spices like allspice and cinnamon distinguish Cincy-style chili. To keep the beef moist, this recipe simmers calls for simmering the meat in water. (Recipe here »)

Chili with Chipotle and Chocolate - Never had chili with chocolate? Well there’s a first time for everything. The combination of smoky chipotle chiles and earthy unsweetened chocolate add unexpected depth and richness to this hearty chili. (Recipe here ») 

Chili Tortilla Bake - Change things up with this homestyle Tex-Mex casserole. With your favorite chili flavors topped with bubbly cheese - you won’t need to take out any tupperware for leftovers. (Recipe here ») 

If you need to stock up on your chili necessities - cumin, cayenne, chili powder, black pepper, etc - we’ve got you covered. When taste is everything, La Flor is all you need to transform your everyday meal into an extraordinary culinary delight. Shop our selection of spices, herbs, and blends on the web - keep it spicy America!