2 lb. ground beef sirloin
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
1 (7 oz.) can diced green chiles (mild)
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
2 tbsp. beef base paste (better than bouillon)
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
3 (10 oz. ea.) cans concentrated beef broth (Campbell's)
1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans

You will need a dutch oven brown the meat and fry pan to sauté the peppers and onions.

Prepare the peppers and onions first. Sauté the chopped bell peppers and onions in the fry pan until the onions are translucent. Do not let them brown. Drain off any oil and add to the meat in the dutch oven when the meat is ready.

Lightly brown the meat in the dutch oven just enough to remove the pink and no more. Do not over cook the meat! Do not drain off any fat from cooking the meat. You will loose much of the flavors from the cooking of the meat.

Add the sautéed peppers and onions to the meat in the dutch oven. Now add the spices: bay leaves, chili powder, oregano, paprika, cayenne, salt and cumin.

When adding the diced tomatoes, do not drain them. Use all the fluids. Now pour the can of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce over the spices. Blend just a bit.

Now add 2 cans of beef broth and the diced green chili juices and all. Stir the mixture so it is well blended. Now add one tablespoon of the "beef base paste" and stir it in. Put on lowest heat and let it simmer, stirring every 15 minutes.

The longer you let the chili simmer and cook the better it gets. You are going to let the mixture reduce down. Then add the remaining can of beef broth and the second spoon of "beef base paste". Stir again and let it reduce down again. The tomatoes, peppers and onions are breaking down by now and going into mixture. Keep reducing to the thickness you like. I find the consistency of gravy is what you want. Do not add any thickeners, it is not necessary.

When you add the second can of beef broth, you can add the kidney beans. Either way, with or without beans, it tastes great. Follow the recipe the first time and you will not be disappointed. Then you can modify it to your tastes next time.

To kick it up a bit from a mild chili, use hotter diced green chilies a bit more chili powder to taste.

Enjoy!

Submitted by: Dan Fredriksen