Italian Chili

Ingredients:

•     1 tsp olive oil

•     1 lb ground beef

•     1 lb turkey Italian sausage, removed from casings

•     1 tsp chili powder

•     1 tsp dried oregano

•     1 tsp dried basil

•     ½ tsp dried cumin

•     Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

•     Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

•     1 sweet yellow onion, diced

•     1 red bell pepper, diced

•     5 cloves of garlic, minced

•     2 15 oz cans of diced tomatoes

•     1 (10 oz) and 1 (8oz) cans of tomato sauce

•     2 (15 oz) cans of chili beans with sauce

•     1 (15 oz) can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained

•     Parmesan cheese, shredded

How to Make Italian Chili

1. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.  Add the ground beef and the turkey Italian sausage, removed from the casings, into the Dutch oven. Side Note: Use a potato masher to break up the meat into crumbles.

2. Add the chili powder, dried basil, oregano, cumin, crushed red pepper, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper, to taste; cook stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes.  Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the meat crumbles; cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes.  Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili beans with sauce, and drained kidney beans.

3. Cover with a lid then lower the heat to a low simmer.  Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 hours.  Taste the chili and re-season if desired.

4. Ladle into bowls then top with shredded Parmesan cheese.  Serve immediately.  Enjoy.