(contains meat, requires crockpot)

1 pound beef, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces--if your grocery store has good stew meat, that's fine, but the quality of meat does make some difference

1 1/2 T chili powder

1 t cumin

1/4 t salt

1/2 t oregano

1/2 t pepper

1/2 t garlic powder

2 T tomato paste

14 oz diced tomatoes--canned or fresh

1/2 onion, diced

15 oz. black beans, rinsed and drained

Spray crockpot with Pam or coat with very little olive oil. Dump beef in, thawed or not. Mix all the spices together. Pour them on the beef. Dump on tomatoes and tomato paste if you have it. If you don't have tomato paste, substitute spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, salsa, or nothing at all. Add remaining ingredients and cook on high for 4-6 hours or on low for 8 hours. Top with shredded cheddar if you want, or sour cream, or jalapeno slices, or all of the above. Corn bread goes well on the side. This is a good recipe if you have a lot to do, because it feels more like "cooking" than spaghetti or mac 'n' cheese, but you really don't have to do a whole heck of a lot, especially if your beef and tomatoes are pre-cut. It smells good cooking all day and can be left on low indefinitely if you have someone whose schedule is indeterminate. This is not the ideal food, but it may come pretty close.