Pati Jinich introduced the guajillo pepper to me, and since then it’s been favorite addition to fall and winter soups, adding just the sort of humble heat necessary to warm the stomach on the coldest days. I didn’t fall any particular recipe for this casual mix – just added some tomatoes (the last from the garden), a few tomatillos, an onion, some garlic, and a dried guajillo pepper. Boiled and blended with a couple of garlic cloves, salt and pepper, then added some fresh cilantro and tortilla chips for dipping. It was a perfect – and quick – dinner for a dreary fall day. Keeping things simple, flavorful, and just a bit spicy is the best recipe for a gray world on the verge of winter.
