Grandma Claire's Chili

GRANDMA CLAIRE'S CHILI

This New Years is cold and snowy....just the right season for a nice hot bowl of chili!!! The chili recipe that I love to make is one from my mother-in-law, Claire Brown. She was never a gourmet cook, but the things she made were good, simple recipes that her family loved. She shared this recipe with me when we were first married and it has become a regular at our family dinner table. Not only is it easy but it can be made in quantity ( I often make a HUGE pot and divide it into family-size portions that can quickly be taken out and thawed for a quick dinner) and can be seasoned Up or Down according to your family's taste. ( anything spicey makes my Irish husband's head sweat, so I usually go easy on the spice!!! :) )

A good hot bowl of chili will warm the start to 2010!!!! Happy New Year!!!

Grandma Claire's Chili

2 # lean ground beef ( or turkey)

1 med. onion diced

1/2 green or red pepper, diced (opt)

2 cans condensed tomato soup + water

1 or 2 cans of kidney beans (depending on how your family likes beans)

1 small can of diced tomatoes ( I use frozen ones from the garden)

1 bay leaf

1 pkg chili seasoning

garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the ground meat in a dutch oven or large pot. Add onions and peppers to brown. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 20 min or so. This can be made ahead of time and really doesn't need to cook for hours. I usually serve this with small noodles or rice, and corn. Some top this with cheddar cheese or sour cream. Do what your family might like!!