If you dine in any New Mexico restaurant serving New Mexican cuisine, be assured that you will be asked the question: “Red or Green?” What does it mean? Well, it reflects what can only be called a local obsession that has even influenced state legislation.

Easy Chile Dip

l 16 oz. tub sour cream

1 Tsp Ristras de Santa Fe Red Chile Powder

Or Ristras de Santa Fe Red Chile Flakes

Or Ristras de Santa Fe Green Chile Powder

Or Ristras de Santa Fe Green Chile Flakes

1 Tsp. Garlic powder

½ Tsp. Cilantro

1/4 Tsp. Salt

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Refrigerate one hour or overnight.

Serve with Potato Chips or Tortilla Chips.

CHILES RELLENOS(Stuffed Chile)

8 green chile peppers roasted and peeled (do not remove stems)

8 strips 2 -1/2 x 2- 1/2 in. long

Jack or Longhorn cheese

Salt to taste

Make a slit in chile below stem just large enough to insert strip of cheese, roll in flour, then dip in the following batter,and fry in about 1 inch deep hot fat or until golden brown.

BATTER FOR CHILE RELLENOS(Batido para Chiles Rellenos)

To ½ cup flour and enough pancake or ready mix biscuit flour to make 2/3 cup,
add 1 cup milk and 1 egg.
Beat until smooth.
Dip cheese-stuffed chiles in batter and deep fry until golden brown.

Chile Colorado

9 Ristras de Santa Fe dried red chile pods - washed, with stems and seeds removed
3 cups water
5 pounds boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of fat
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cups beef stock or water1 - Place chiles and 3 cups water into a medium stockpot, and bring to a boil.

The New Mexico State University and it’s Chile Pepper Institute has this to say regarding the  nutritional and vitamin value of CHILE.

Calcium
Importance: Builds and maintains bones and teeth; regulates heart rhythm; eases insomnia; helps regulate the passage of nutrients in & out of the cell walls; assists in normal blood clotting; helps maintain proper nerve and muscle function; lowers blood pressure; important to normal kidney function and in current medical research reduces the incidence of colon cancer, and reduces blood cholesterol levels.

Deficiency Symptoms: May result in arm and leg muscles spasms, softening of bones, back and leg cramps, brittle bones, rickets, poor growth, osteoporosis ( a deterioration of the bones), tooth decay, depression.

Iron
Importance: Its major function is to combine with protein and copper in making hemoglobin. Hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the tissues which need oxygen to maintain basic life functions.  Iron builds up the quality of the blood and increases resistance to stress and disease. It is also necessary for the formation of myoglobin which is found only in muscle tissue. Myoglobin supplies oxygen to muscle cells for use in the chemical reaction that results in muscle contraction. Iron also prevent fatigue and promotes good skin tone.

Deficiency Symptoms: May result in weakness, paleness of skin, constipation, anemia. For more information