Ranchera Sauce

1 tb Lard; or salad oil

1 Cl Garlic; pureed

1 qt Water

Ranchera roux 1 c Tomato paste

3 tb Lard; or salad oil

2 3/4 tb Chicken base

3 tb Flour; all purpose

1/4 tb Salt

1 tb Garlic powder

1 tb Cumin

1/2 Brown onion

1 pn Marjoram; ground

1 Bell pepper chopped

1 pn Basil

2 Celery chopped

1 pn Bay leaf; ground

1. HEAT THE LARD IN A STOCK POT, ADD THE GARLIC AND SAUTE OVER MEDIUM HEAT

UNTIL LIGHT BROWN (ABOUT 5 MIN.). ADD THE WATER. 2. ADD THE TOMATO PASTE, CHICKEN BASE, SALT AND SPICES, STIRRING UNTIL THE TOMATO PASTE IS COMPLETELY DISSOLVED. BRING TO A BOIL AND SIMMER ON LOW ABOUT 20 MIN. RANCHERA ROUX: WHEN THE SAUCE HAS ALMOST FINISHED SIMMERING, MELT THE LARD IN A SAUCEPAN AND ADD THE FLOUR, STIRRING CONSTANTLY OVER MED. HEAT UNTIL THE MIXTURE IS LIGHT BROWN (ABOUT 5 MIN.) WHEN THE SAUCE HAS FINISHED SIMMERING, SLOWLY ADD THE ROUX TO THE SAUCE, WHIPPING CONSTANTLY TO DISSOLVE THE ROUX INTO THE SAUCE WITHOUT LUMPING. aDD THE VEGETABLES AND RETURN THE SAUCE TO A BOIL. SIMMER 20 MIN. OVER LOW HEAT. GOOD ON THE RICE AND OTHER MEXICAN DISHES.