Fire and Brimstone Mexican Meatball Stew

[SweetRose]

Hi all!

It's a cold sunny day here in Alaska so I thought a good LDL approved stew would be in order. At first I thought it would just be called Mexican Meatball Stew, but, heh,heh..., I added a little too much chili powder, so I changed the name.  *evil*

Pretty hot , but oh-so-good!

Here it is: :

A little over a pound of leanest ground beef I could find
3/4 big yellow onion,sliced
small amount garlic
quarter head of cabbage, cut up
1 can rinsed yellow hominey ( has never stalled my weight). Substitute gabanzo beans , if you'd like
1 can rinsed black-eyed peas
1 can ranch beans with sauce (very low sugar)
1/2 bag frozen green peas
1 small can mild chopped green chilis
1 bag fresh baby spinach/spring salad mix
3 small cans lowest sugar tomato sauce
3 tablespoons beef bullion granules
about 4 cups water (add more if needed)
more spicy seasonings*

* cilantro- fresh is much better, but I didn't have it on hand today. I encourage use of fresh whenever possible
Chef's Blend (brand)
cajun blend
fresh ground peppercorns
mesquite
chili powder ( watch it!)

I don't use seasonings with MSG


I added spicy seasonings, including chili powder (go easy! ) to make small meatballs. Added a little salt to taste. Sauteed meatballs with onions and garlic in a little evoo. Stirred in rest of ingredients including additional seasonings, and simmered for about 30 minutes. Makes a big pot of thick stew-like soup.

Just had a bowl topped with parmesan cheese.  

Will even be better tomorrow!

Think I'll have another bowl.

SweetRose

[LINDA RN]

Sounds yummy, SweetRose.
Just check out your bullion though. Most are full of MSG.
Why do they want to ruin stuff with that?
I have been using the coconut aminos in place of the bullion.
You could use both corn and garbanzo's in place of the hominy.
Love recipes that you can change up for variety

[SweetRose]

Hi Linda RN!

My bullion comes from the health food store and is MSG free.

I could have added corn today but I was too lazy to go to my extra freezer in the shed on my deck to get it.

SweetRose

[JerrieH]

Sweet Rose - What kind of msg-free boullion do you use.  I'm always looking for a boillion without msg for the recipes I make for my family, but it is really hard to find a good one.  I use a powdered beef Watkins brand that is supposed to not have msg and a use a liquid organic chicken stock from the grocery store.  What also makes it hard is that many manufacturers, of many products have tried to hide msg by calling it other things (at least they have done it in the past, I guess they still do).  But if you know of a good one at the health food store without msg, I would sure like to hear about it.  It's nice if you can make your own stock, but I don't usually cook meats that are on the bone, which makes the best stock, so it would be great to know of a good brand boullion without msg.  Thanks  Jerrie

[JerrieH]

LindaRN - What are coconut aminos.  I haven't heard of that and do you use it in place of boullion?  I have some Bragg's Liquid Aminos that can be used in place of soy sauce, but I have never heard of coconut aminos.  How do you use it?  Jerrie 

[SweetRose]

Hi JerrieH!

It might be Herb Ox brand. I had it in a plastic bag so I'm not positive. It's not supposed to contain any MSG, but it may contain other ingredients that we could live without. If you use the liquid stock, that may be better.

SweetRose

[LINDA RN]

Jerrie,
I was actually looking for Braggs aminos when I found the coconut aminos at our Health Food Center.


http://www.coconutsecret.com/aminos2.html

It helps to see a picture to know what you are looking for.

I have used Bullion from the Health Food store also.
They had exactly the same brand at Wal-Mart but when I read the label, the one at Wal-Mart had MSG
Be sure to read labels.

[JerrieH]

Sweet Rose:

    Thanks for the info on the Herb Ox.  I have used that in the past and haven't seen it in a while.  I'll have to look for it again.  I remember it being in little packets.

LindaRN:

    Thanks for the photo and info on the coconut aminos.  I have never seen that product.  I'll have to check that out next time I'm at my local health food store.

Jerrie

[rodie]

I googled the Herb ox bouillon and it says that it is MSG free.
Hugzz
Rodie

[JerrieH]

That's great to know, Rodie.  Thanks for checking on it.  Jerrie

[Joyful Friend]

Thanks for the recipe---sounds delicious!!!    JF