Wilbert Seciwa Jr., age 11, of Zuni, N.M., for his question:

HOW IS CHILI MADE?

Chili is a Spanish word that means red pepper. Chili con carne means red pepper with meat. It's a highly seasoned  dish to which pinto beans are sometimes added.

Both red and green peppers are heavy in vitamin A and C values. Native to the Americas, the best varieties are grown in the state of New Mexico.

To prepare dried chili peppers for use in sauces, a chef will soak dry chili peppers in water and simmer them until tender for about 20 minutes. The peppers are then drained and, when cool, they are split, the seeds are removed and discarded and the pulp is scraped and allowed to dry. To make chili con carne, a chef simmers beef,  and onions and then makes a roux with chili powder, flour and seasoned with garlic and salt.  This sauce with beef or pork can be eaten with beans.  It is a healthy and nutritious meal.