Chili

Makes 8 main dish servings

ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground lean beef
2 cups chopped onion (2 large)
1 cup chopped green sweet pepper (1 large)
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 15 to 16-ounce cans kidney beans, pinto beans, and/or black beans, rinsed and drained
2 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
dairy sour cream (optional)

directions

In a 4-quart Dutch oven cook ground beef, onion, sweet pepper, and garlic until meat is brown and onion is tender; drain fat. Stir in kidney beans, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, chili powder, basil, and black pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. If desire, top each serving with cheese and/or sour cream.