Classic Chili on a Chilly Fall Night

Today was a cold dreary day in Minneapolis so I decided it was the perfect night to make some Chili.

My Classic Chili recipe is a combination of Betty Crocker's and Better Homes' cook books along with a little bit of me.

Prep: 25 min
Cook Time: 90 min
Serves: 8

Ingredients:

2 lbs.            90/10 Ground Beef (you can use 85/15 if you prefer more fat)
1                   Yellow Onion (1 large or 2 medium)
2                   Green Bell Peppers
3-4                Garlic Cloves, finely chopped
1-28oz. can   Diced Tomatoes, undrained
1-15oz. can   Tomato Sauce
2 Tbs.            Chili Powder
1 1/2 tsp.       Cumin
1/4 - 1 tsp.     Cayenne, based on desired heat level
1 tsp.             Dried Basil
1 tsp.             Salt
1 tsp.             Black Pepper
2-15oz. cans  Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed

Directions:

1.  Heat a large dutch oven over medium-high heat.  In 3 batches, brown ground beef with onion, peppers and garlic.  I do this in 3 batches to make sure the meat gets browned instead of just steamed.  Drain each batch into a bowl lined with paper towel.

2.  Return meat mixture to dutch oven, add diced tomatoes and next 7 ingredients through black pepper.  Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer.  Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

3. Add kidney beans and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes.  Serve.

I serve this chili with elbow macaroni (or brown rice elbow macaroni for gluten free), reduced-fat cheddar cheese, a little extra chopped raw onion and sour cream.


Since I am usually only cooking for 2 on weeknights, I still make the full batch and freeze half of the batch for another easy chilly day meal.



Fun Kitchen Gadget:

My friends have always laughed at how many random kitchen gadgets I have and tonight I got to use one of my favorites!! I have to share this with you all.  When you chop garlic, do you ever notice how sticky it is and then how your hands smell like garlic for a week no matter how much you wash them? Well, this little gadget will be your new best friend!!!

Introducing the Garlic Zoom:

These are available at amazon.com, and many specialty grocery and general stores for under $10.  I use it almost ever time I cook!  All you have to do is peel the garlic, pop the cloves into your zoom, and roll it on your cutting board for perfectly minced garlic.