Description

This delicious recipe comes from the famous cookbook, The Joy of Cooking. It can be adapted to your taste and lifestyle as you wish.

Ingredients

• 2 T. bacon drippings or butter
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 1/2 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 1/2 lb. ground beef or lamb
• 1 1/4 c. canned tomatoes
• 3 c. canned kidney beans
• 3/4 t. salt
• 1/2 bay leaf
• 1 t. sugar
• 1/4 c. dry red wine, optional
• 2 T. chili powder, or to taste

Steps

1. Melt drippings or butter; when heated, saute onion and garlic; add the ground meat. Stir; saute meat until well done; discard any grease. Add tomatoes, kidney beans, salt, bay leaf, sugar, wine and chili powder. Cover; simmer about 1 hour or longer. The longer it cooks, the thicker it becomes and the better it tastes.
2. The chili can be prepared a day in advance and reheated.
3. Serve with tortillas, crackers or over cooked spaghetti or elbow macaroni. Garnish with chopped green onions or shredded cheese.