Northern Life Chili

This is how to make chili, my way.

I'm warning you now though, it's very much a throw things into a pot recipe. 

Step 1: Cut up 2 celery and saute for a couple minutes in a little bit of olive oil and butter. I use my dutch oven for this recipe, so it can be a one pot type of thing. 

Step 2: Add in ground beef, with salt and pepper and cook until all brown and not pink.  The celery will cook more and become softer too.

Step 3: Add a can of this (or the spicy one, but this is what I had on hand). Read the label though, notice how it says CHUNKY? That means you have to take an extra 2 minutes and cut them up. Save yourself the trouble and just buy DICED!

Step 4: Add beans. I chose Red Kidney and Romano. Drain and rinse them before throwing in! 

  
Step 5: As you can see on the above photo, I don't have enough liquid, so we took a can of diced tomatoes and used a hand blender to make them liquid. I suppose a can of crushed would have been easier, but again, that's all I had on hand. 

Step 6: Spices. These measurements are approximate: 4 tbsp of Chili Powder; 2 tbsp of Cumin; 5 dashes of hot sauce; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; 1 tbsp homemade Taco Seasoning; Salt and Pepper. All of these are to TASTE. As in start with a little, cook, then TASTE and adjust accordingly.

 Step 7: Simmer. I ended up cooking for approximately 2 hours, however you can do more or less. BUT the longer it cooks, the more the flavours meld and become one, so I wouldn't do any less then two. (This can easily be a crockpot meal by the way.)

 Step 8: Top with sour cream and cheese and DEVOUR with some Tostitos. 

Update: Here's an ingredient list to make your life easier!
(Again, all measurements are approximate, especially the spices, do whatever you feel! It's really hard to screw up chili!)

2 Celery, washed and chopped
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Butter
1 lb Groud Beef
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 can Italian Seasoned Tomatoes, diced
1 can Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Romano Beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Crushed Tomatoes
4 tbsp of Chili Powder
2 tbsp of Cumin
5 dashes of hot sauce
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tbsp homemade Taco Seasoning
Salt and Pepper
Sour Cream and Cheese for topping