Mural of Flavor

Hello, my name is Linda Bonwill. I am originally from East Haven, Connecticut, and now happily living in Florida, surrounded by my children. Cooking has always been my passion, and over the years I have competed in many cooking contests, earning numerous awards. One of my proudest accomplishments was winning the “Side Dish” category at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas in 2012.

Since then, I’ve had the honor of being featured on television shows, in magazines, and in news articles. In 2024, I published my very first cookbook, Soups, Chili, Chowders, and Bisques. I also specialize in gluten-free recipe development, inspired by my own diagnosis with Celiac Disease. Now, I’m excited to be opening a Prepared Meal Market, where I will be offering fresh, gluten-free meals along with options for other dietary needs.

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced (approx. 1 cup)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 small cans La Costeña salsa
1 can (19.75 oz) La Costeña Whole Black Beans with water
1 cup beef broth
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped (adjust to taste)
2 tbsp adobo sauce (from chipotle can)
2 ears of corn, shucked (grilled or roasted)
1 package taco seasoning powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp oregano

Toppings: sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, diced avocado

Preparation Steps

1. Heat 1–2 tbsp cooking oil in a large skillet. Add ground beef and sauté until it starts to brown.
2. Add onions and garlic. Stir, breaking up the meat into small pieces. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add all remaining ingredients (except toppings). Stir and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to prevent sticking. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Serve in bowls and add your favorite toppings.

Fun Fact

I was immediately intrigued by the wide variety of products from La Costeña, but the one that caught my eye right away was their Chipotles in Adobo Sauce. Since not all adobo sauces are gluten-free, I was especially excited to discover that this one is—and it exceeded my expectations. The chipotles bring such depth and smokiness that it didn’t take long at all for my chili to simmer into something truly delicious.

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