Cheatin' Chili

Here's a super fast, easy and delicious chili that won't take y'all hours to cook!



Ingredients:

2 lbs extra lean ground beef, sirloin or turkey
1 cup of creole seasoning*
1 jar of Bertolli pasta sauce**
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of light kidney beans
1/4 - 1/2 cup chili powder***
2 tbsp (or whatever you want) of Italian Seasoning
Dash or two of Tony Chachere's (or your favorite season-all)
Dash or two (or more!) of cayenne pepper
1 bay leaf

Brown the meat and toss the creole seasoning on top.
Break up any big pieces of meat.
If you use extra lean beef or turkey you can skip draining it.




Drain and rinse the kidney beans.




Once the meat is browned, throw in the rest of the ingredients.




Stir.
Taste test.
Add more seasonings if you like.
Be careful because the chili will get stronger as it cooks!




Cover.
Cook on medium-low at least 30 minutes so the flavors can blend together.
Stir occasionally.




Spoon some into a bowl.
Top with shredded cheese and serve with saltine crackers.



So Yummy!

I don't add any extra salt or pepper, so that's why you don't see it on my list of ingredients.
Also, I try not to make mine too spicy so Serenity will eat it, but you can add extra cayenne pepper and/or Tony's (careful - it has salt in it) to give it a little kick.

Have Fun!!


* This is a combination of fresh finely chopped onions, bell peppers, celery, shallots, garlic and parsely.
We use this a lot in South Louisiana and can find it in all our gocery stores.
Each store has it's own favorite combination.

**I used Bartolli, but any pasta sauce you choose will be fine.

***Add more or less depending on how you like it!