Chili

(Picture: chili with a wedge of homemade cornbread)

A chilly winter day is a great time to fix chili and cornbread.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef, browned
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 (15.5 oz) can light red kidney beans (or chili beans)
2 and 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic, diced
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
(You can adjust the last 4 ingredients to taste. If you like things spicy, you may add more chili powder or cumin, if you don't like spice just lower the chili powder and cumin. You can also start with less and add more spice at the table with hot sauce or ground cayenne pepper)

In a large pot combine all the ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for at least 20 minutes.

The wonderful thing about chili and that you can have a good meal in 20 minutes or it can simmer on the stove for longer and the flavors develop even more.

Another great way to prepare chili, is to mix all the ingredients into a slow-cooker in the morning, set it to low and 6-8 hours later your dinner is ready to serve.

Toppings for chili: sour cream, guacamole, shredded cheddar cheese, or crackers.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes - 8 hours
Approximate cost (as costs for the ingredients vary from place to place): $4.50