Basic Chili

There are a thousand ways to make chili. For years I made mine with beef and beans, until a friend asked for no beans, then my family turned on me and bailed on their long loved version of my chili.

Now they like meat only but lately I've added bell peppers to the mix. It's just the two of us and we've really started to like it that way! You can add pasta if you like - some do, some don't.

You'll need:

2-3 Quarts of Tomato Juice
3  lbs. Ground Chuck (some like it extra meaty)
2-3 Bell Peppers (diced and sautéed- optional)
Chili Powder - to taste
Salt
Pepper
Onion Flakes

This is as simple as it gets! When browning the beef, sprinkle liberally with chili powder, add salt and pepper and a few shakes of onion flakes. Drain beef and add to crock pot. Add tomato juice and peppers, sprinkle a liberal amount of chili powder, salt and pepper again, then cook on low heat for at least 4 hours.

If you add pasta, cook it first then rinse in cool water and cool completely.  Add at the very end of the cooking of your chili.  If you don't, you'll get starchy pasta pops.....and that's never good.

You'll have to adjust the seasoning to suit your heat preference. We like it pretty zippy! I serve my chili with Fritos and shredded Velveeta! You can add sour cream or just use crackers - cornbread is pretty yummy with chili too! Just curl up in your team jersey and dig into a big mug of chili and cheer your little heart out!