Chili Powder

Makes: About ¼ cup

Time: 5 minutes

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Do yourself and everyone you cook for a favor and toss out any taco seasoning or packaged chili powder you may have tucked away. Not only will this version blow anything you can buy out of the water, it’s easy to make.

• 2 tablespoons ground ancho, New Mexico, or other mild chile
• 1 tablespoon dried Mexican oregano
• 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
• ½ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste
• ½ teaspoon black peppercorns

1. Put all the ingredients in a small skillet over medium heat. Toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until the mixture is fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. Cool, then grind to a fine powder in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in a tightly covered container for up to several weeks.