OK – this one’s for DJ YELLOWJACKET… who always seems to ask for my chili, even though he knows that I don’t really like chili – well, the truth is, I don’t really care for the beans… and who requested it in May… Sorry it took so long…

Happy Birthday, by the way…

It’s my throw-everything-in-a-pot-and-let-it-cook recipe. SUPER EASY – hardest part should be opening up the cans…

You’ll need:

3 lbs. of ground sirloin (coarse ground or chili ground, if available at your supermarket)

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

salt

pepper

1 large onion, diced

1 large green bell pepper, diced

4 packets of Lawry’s Chili seasoning

1 (11 oz.) can of golden kernel corn, drained (optional

1 (14.5 oz.) can of Hunt’s Roasted Garlic diced tomatoes with liquid

2 (14.5 oz.) cans of Del Monte diced tomatoes with zesty mild green chiles with liquid

2 (8 oz.) cans tomato sauce + 1 can water

2 (16 oz.) cans of Bush’s Best Chili Beans (Pinto Beans in Mild Chili Sauce) with liquid

2 Tbsp. Best Foods mayonnaise (optional)

Directions:

Using medium high heat, brown the ground sirloin in a pot with the vegetable oil.

LIGHTLY SEASON the beef with a tiny bit of salt and pepper.

Let the meat cook and try not to stir it around so much so that you get nice, big, chunky pieces of beef. When the beef is cooked, drain most of the fat from the pot, leaving just enough so that the beef does not stick to the pot.

Lower the heat to medium and add the onions and bell peppers to the meat mixture at this time. (You would also add the corn at this time too.) Mix all together.

Add the chili seasoning and continue to mix to evenly distribute the seasoning. Let it cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onions get a bit translucent and limp.

Next, mix add the tomatoes, tomato sauce and water.

And finally, gently fold in the beans and try not to crush them.

Lower the heat to a simmer and cook for another 15 minutes or so, stirring occasionally.

Turn off heat, then stir in the mayonnaise for “creamier” chili.

This recipe will make a pretty big pot, so call your friends over to help you finish it off.

I usually have a condiment bar or “add on” buffet on the side – shredded cheese, sour cream, HOT SAUCE, sliced hot dogs, tortilla chips, corn bread, toasted sourdough rolls, rice, etc. -so that everyone can customize and personalize their chili to their individual tastes.