PRIZE-WINNING NUEVO CHIPOTLE BEEF

Here's a flavorful dish adapted from a recipe that won the $25,000 grand prize in the National Beef Cookoff two years ago. This year's beef cookoff is accepting entries through March 31. For information, go to kansasbeef.org. The cookoff finals are held in Sonoma Valley, Calif.

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs. lean beef for stew

1/3cup water

¼ cup tomato paste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper, or regular chile powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

½teaspoon salt

½teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Place beef, water, tomato paste, sugar, vinegar, chipotle pepper, cumin, salt and black pepper in stockpot. Cover and bake in oven 1 ¾ to 2 ¼ hours or until beef is fork-tender.

Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.