Picadillo Pear Ole

YIELD: 48 servings

8 lbs. ground beef
4 lbs. onion, chopped
½ cup sugar
3 Tbsps. salt
2 ½ Tbsps. ground cinnamon
2 ½ Tbsps. ground cumin
3 ¾ lbs. crushed tomato, canned,
     with liquid
5 ¼ lbs. canned pears, diced,
    drained
1 ½ cups vinegar

1. Brown beef until it begins to release its fat. Stir in onion. Cook until onion is soft, about 10 minutes; drain off excess fat. Stir in seasonings; cook, stirring 1 minute.
2. Stir in tomato, pears and vinegar; simmer until most of liquid has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Serving suggestions: Use as a filling for tacos, tostadas or burritos, or as an entrée with rice and a vegetable.

Photo and recipe: Pacific Northwest Canned Pears