Deb's Cold Winter Day Chili

Crumble and fry sausage in a skillet, drain and set aside.

Brush bottom of a large heavy pot with oil.

Saute onions, bell pepper and celery for 10 minutes.

Add ground beef and cook until beef is just browned. DO NOT drain.

Add remaining ingredients except chili powder and those designated to be set aside. season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 1/2 hours, stirring often until mixture thickens. Add Chili Powder to taste.

Skim off fat with a lettuce leaf while cooking or refrigerate and lift off as a solid block.

Serve with your choice of Saltines or Corn Bread, soft butter, chopped onions and shredded cheddar on the side.

*Note: Top this meal off by serving with large chilled glasses of ice cold milk.

Chili really tastes great after it has been allowed to sit over night.


Deb's Cold Winter Day Chili
Serving Suggestion: Hollow out the inside of a large sourdough roll and pour chili into it. Then bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes – it's delicious and you can eat the bowl too!

Oil	4 medium Onions, finely chopped, *set 1 aside
2 medium Bell Peppers, chopped	3 Celery Stalks, chopped
2 lbs. fresh Ground Beef or Chuck, coarse grind	1 lb roll of quality Ground Sausage
1 - 6 ounce can Tomato Paste	1 lb can Stewed Tomato's, diced
1 - 16 ounce can Tomato Sauce	1 -2 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped
1 Tbl Salt	Dried Oregano, to taste
Black or Red Pepper, to taste	1 Bay leaf
Chili Powder, strength to your liking and taste	1 large can Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 large can Chili Beans, undrained	1 large or 2 small cans Pinto Beans, undrained
1 tsp Distilled White Vinegar	*1 box Saltines or White or Yellow Corn Bread and soft Butter on the side
*Shredded Cheddar Cheese, on the side

Crumble and fry sausage in a skillet, drain and set aside. Brush bottom of a large heavy pot with oil. Saute onions, bell pepper and celery for 10 minutes. Add ground beef and cook until beef is just browned. DO NOT drain. Add remaining ingredients except chili powder and those designated to be set aside. season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 1/2 hours, stirring often until mixture thickens. Add Chili Powder to taste. Skim off fat with a lettuce leaf while cooking or refrigerate and lift off as a solid block. Serve with your choice of Saltines or Corn Bread, soft butter, chopped onions and shredded cheddar on the side. *Note: Top this meal off by serving with large chilled glasses of ice cold milk. Chili really tastes great after it has been allowed to sit over night.