In San Antonio, Tex-Mex chile sauces always start with with a ancho chile puree. But the best chile sauces always combine at least two types of chiles for a well-rounded flavor. This chile puree is a great base for chili-con-carne and that wonderfully rich enchilada sauce that you can make at home from scratch. Makes about 4 cups.

A special meal once a week or month is a great idea to build a strong family. Studies show that families that regularly eat together are more stable. Last week, I wrote about our family’s Sunday feast. This week, I want to show you how you can start your own family tradition, and how the kids can help.

I am a bit a chili-head. I love cooking a lot with Chili peppers, as it is a great way to add taste into what could be otherwise bland food. Sweet or spicy, they are as colorful as a Disney movie when fresh, but turn as dark and mysterious as Stephen King movie, hinting at complexity and nuance when dried.

Of course I have to make everything "mild" for my kids, and then add a few zesty touchs for the adults eating with us.

This is a good tasting Sweet pickle relish. If you have too much left over, you can put in a covered bowl in the refrigerator and use with-in two weeks. I doubt it will last that long. At least at my house it doesn't. This recipe makes 7 half-pints, which is a perfect water bath canner load. Once you make this Sweet pickle relish, then you are set to make Hot dog pickle relish. This pickle dish is a perfect example of uncooked raw packed preserving.