Chili

I'm sure to some, chili is as easy to make as a bowl of cereal. I, however, am a child less gifted in creativity and fairly good at following instruction, so I look for a recipe. Here's a good recipe - easy to make and - for our family - it's bland enough that our two-year old loves it. But sometimes I feed him spicy stuff.

Adapted from: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 medium yellow or white onion, chopped
1 yellow or red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely minced or pressed through a garlic press
2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (16-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 (15-ounce) can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot, brown the meat with the onion and garlic over medium heat, until cooked through, breaking up the ground turkey into pieces as it cooks. Drain off extra grease. Add the chopped bell pepper and cook 1-2 minutes until slightly tender. Add the rinsed and drained beans. Stir. Add the remaining ingredients and spices. Stir well. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the chili to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes (or upwards of an hour if you have more time), stirring occasionally and making sure the chili isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and tortilla chips, if desired.