This is a Mexican stew or you make it with less liquid and use the meat on tacos, tortillas, and eat it with rice and beans.

• 3/4 to 1 pound sirloin or chuck cut up into small pieces or just buy cubed stew meat (although, I still cut the pieces even smaller as I want to STRETCH the meat...I always buy what is on sale and cheapest (as long as it is lean) and then cut it up...even if it's a roast) (Also, use kitchen scissors...10 times easier than knives).

• 1 T diced dehydrated onion

• 2 t minced garlic (more or less to taste)

• salt and pepper to taste

• 4-6 teaspoons ground cumin

• 1 pkg. Sazon Goya with Coriander and Annatto (Orange) (Remember that there are different flavors of Sazon Goya and sometimes I use different ones to change this up).

• 2 cans (15 ounces) diced potatoes

• 1 can (15 ounces) sliced carrots

• 1 jar (1 lb. 10 oz.) Ragu® Traditional

Preparation:

In a large Dutch oven or big stew pot, cook the beef with 2-3 cups of water, Ragu, and spices. Depending on how tough the meat is, you usually have to cook it for 30 minutes or more until the meat is tender. Add remaining ingredients and more water if needed. Simmer over low heat until the water cooks off and it is thicker or leave it juicier, whatever you like.

VARIATIONS:

Oh! This is one of my favorite meals. I do a variation of this almost weekly.

Instead of potatoes and carrots, add:

• 1/4 teaspoon leaf oregano

• 1 can (15 ounces) mixed vegetables (drained)

• 1 can (15 ounces) corn (drained)

Or add:

• 2 cans (15 ounces) mixed vegetables (drained)

Or if you want it spicier and hotter, add:

• 1 small can (4 ounces) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies peppers

Or add:

• 4 cans (15 ounces) pinto beans (drained)

• 2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes

• 1 small can (4 ounces) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies peppers

Or add:

• 2 cans (15 ounces) black beans (drained)

• 2 cans (15 ounces) corn (drained)

• 1 small can (4 ounces) diced tomatoes with mild green chilies peppers

Be creative!! Do you want stew? Add more water, some chicken bullion or 2-3 packets of any of the Sazon Goya and you are good to go. Also REMEMBER that if you want stew do NOT drain the cans...just add it all...or you can add it all anytime and just cook it longer to thicken it and not lose the nutrients that are in the liquid which is what I do if I have time.

In addition, if you just want a meat dish to eat with rice and beans, cut the Ragu in half, do not add the veggies, and you can eat it with tortillas and chips.

Just so you know, I still add the veggies, even when it is for tacos, to just stretch the meal even further...and your children will get used to the veggies.

MOMS WITH SMALL CHILDREN!! HINT!!

For years, I have hidden veggies in when I use Ragu...for anything...including spaghetti sauce. The way I do it is that I put the Ragu and water in the blender and then add some zucchini, or yellow squash, a little piece of cabbage, a carrot, and so on.

I just blend it all together and then, voila, your children are eating veggies and they don't even know it.