Chili

The weather is starting to get warmer, which is a good thing, but it also means I need to hurry up and post this chili recipe!  Pretty soon it will be way too hot and humid out for chili.  This is a very simple and tasty recipe, just plop the ingredients into the pot and before you know it  you've got some delicous chili with just the right amount of heat.

Chili
* adapted from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 (46 ounce) can tomato juice
1 (29 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 green bell pepper chopped
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper ( I usually add a pinch more)
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup chili powder

Directions:
1.  Place ground beef in a large skillet and brown.  Drain cooked meat.
2.  In large pot combine all ingredients.
3.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 1 1/2 hours.

Notes:
-I like to top my chili with cheese and sour cream.  I also like either oyster crackers or corn bread, depending on how lazy I am feeling.
-Draining and rinsing the beans is an important step; it improves taste and reduces the sodium up to 41%!
-You can get  most of the canned goods from Aldi, which makes this chili very good and very frugal.