Chilero or Hot Sauce

I created this recipe during our episode of "social distancing" when we ran out of chilero, or hot sauce. I would call this a cross between the popular Cholula Hot Sauce and Banquete Chilero. It's easy to make and it's a good substitute when you can't get to your grocery store.

Ingredients:

• 1½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1½ teaspoon of ground cayenne pepper
• 2 cups of V8 juice
• 1 cup of finely diced carrot
• 4 Dried Chipotle chili peppers (seeds and stems removed)
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1½ tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt

Directions:

• Blend the cornstarch in the cup of water.
• Add all of the ingredients to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Remove from the heat and using an immersion blender to finely grind the carrots and peppers until they almost disappear in the sauce.
• Return the saucepan to the heat and bring it back up to a boil for another 15 minutes.
• Pour into sterile bottles, allow the bottles to cool and store in the refrigerator.