Clay's chili

I've actually been meaning to start contributing to this forum since Rich started it. I know, I'm a procrastinator.....

I love to cook and experiment with food. I'll post up a few of the dishes I like to make periodically. Modify them to suit your tastes, after all, that's the fun part isn't it?

Cold weather is coming, so I'll start with my Chili recipe. This is based on my Mom's chili that she always made when I was growing up, I just tweaked it to suit myself, and to make a larger quantity. The optional ingredients are for those who like spicy chili, adjust to your taste and tolerance.

Ingredients

2-2 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 large onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 8oz can tomato sauce
2 15oz cans diced tomatoes
2 cans light red kidney beans
4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 bay leaves
6 cloves
1 tbsp Dave's Insanity Sauce (optional)
4 Habanero peppers, diced (optional)


Brown ground beef and drain
Sautee onions, green peppers and habanero peppers over medium heat until tender, 5 minutes or so.
Put beef, peppers and onions in a large pot. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes and all seasonings except the Dave's Insanity Sauce.
Simmer covered for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.

Remove the cloves and bay leaves.
Drain liquid from one can of beans and leave it in the other.
Add the beans and simmer another 20-25 minutes uncovered.
Add Dave's Insanity Sauce in the last five minutes and stir well.

Serve as is, or add shredded cheese.