Place all ingredients except the boiling water in an 8-ounce mug. Stir to dissolve the sugar, leaving the spoon in the mug. Pour in boiling water to fill, and stir.
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.