Big Bowl of Meaty Deliciousness

Everybody wants to find the perfect weeknight dinner thats cheap, easy, and that has leftovers for days. Well, here it is. There are probably a zillion different variations and lots ways to keep it interesting over the course of the week. You're getting excited, right? You should be...

CHILI!!!
1 1/2 lbs ground meat -- this can be any kind of ground meat. We usually do 1lb of ground chicken or turkey and 1/2lb hot italian sausage, but you can do any combination you like. I do suggest not using all sausage (it will overpower all other flavors) or all turkey/chicken (too dry).
1 large onion, chopped

2 bell peppers, any color, chopped 

1 hot pepper -- any type would be fine, it all depends on your preferred heat level. Italian cherry peppers are mild, jalapenos are medium and serranos are hot. If you take out the seeds, the spice level goes down. If you want a smokier flavor, you can use 1-2 canned chipotle peppers.

3-4 cloves of garlic, chopped

2-3 tbls of any combination of dried spices you like -- there are endless options. My stand-bys are cumin, coriander, chile pepper, basil, oregano, parsley and paprika, but you can choose whatever flavors you like best. Just be aware of how strong they are and make sure to balance accordingly.

4 tbls chopped fresh parsley -- this dish really needs a fresh herb to brighten up the flavor. A squeeze of lemon would also be nice.
3 cans beans -- this can be any kind of beans. We usually do 1 can of black beans, 1 can of kidney beans and 1 can of garbanzo beans. Mixing it up is fun.

1 jar of tomato sauce -- this is the secret ingredient! My boyfriend came up with it, and it adds layers of flavor.
1 14.5 oz can fire-roasted tomatoes -- you can add regular canned tomatoes, but this really give a punch of flavor
1 1/2 - 2 cups broth -- any kind you have on hand is fine

Put the meat in a non-stick pan and allow to brown and cook through, breaking it apart as you go. Meanwhile, drizzle the bottom of a large pot with olive oil. Saute the onion and pepper over medium heat until softened, about 5-10 minutes. Add the garlic, chile pepper and spices and saute another minute or two. Add the cooked meat, beans, tomato sauce, fire-roasted tomatoes and enough stock to make it liquidy. Turn the burner to very low, and allow this to cook, covered, at least 30 minutes to let the flavors combine and the meat to soften. You can cook it longer than this, but probably not more than an hour because you don't want the ingredients to disintegrate (besides, who has that kind of patience?). Turn off the burner and stir in the parsley.
As for the toppings, there are endless possibilities: cheddar, jack cheese, scallions, chives, sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, etc. Serve in a bowl with tortillas or tortilla chips. Serve as a sloppy joe. Serve over spaghetti with some parmesan cheese. There are so many ways to keep this interesting--get creative!

Happy Eating!