Quick Easy Chili

It truly amazes me how some people blow cooking way out of proportion. I am known as the best cook in my family, and I have a really big family! Basic food preparation doesn't have to be long and laborious. My chili, which takes only 30 minutes to make, taste just as good and even better than chili that some have labored all day on.

A business associate of ours used to sponsor chili cook offs at his place of business. He loves chili and a few years ago he suffered a death in the family. I made him a pot of chili and he said it was the best chili he had ever tasted. He had no idea how I made it and for all he knew I had spent hours on it. I know him well and he wouldn't say it was good if it wasn't.

Ingredients

2 pounds of ground beef
3 cans of pinto beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
3/4 cup of olive oil
3 packages of chili seasoning (any kind- they're all basically the same, even the store brand)

You can add onions and peppers if you like. I sometimes add them if I have them on hand and if I have the time to chop them but they're not necessary. The chili will still taste good without them.

In a large pot, brown the ground beef and chop it fine with the spatula until it's as fine as you like it. Some people like big chunks of meat in their chili and some don't. As for me, it depends on how much time I have. Sprinkle a little salt over the meat if you like. I usually sprinkle it with a little garlic salt.

Once the meat has browned, drain off the grease and add the olive oil and spices. Blend the spices with the cooked meat then add the 3 cans of pinto beans. You can use kidney beans if you prefer but to me they're too firm and don't absorb the spices as well as the pinto beans.

Add the tomatoes. Don't drain it. Just empty the whole thing in. Fill the empty can three times with water and pour it into the pot. Stir until it is well blended. Bring it to a boil then lower the heat and let it simmer about ten minutes or until you're ready to serve.

Dried pinto beans are especially good for chili if you want to go through the trouble. When they're done, drain the liquid off then measure about 5 cups into the pot and about 5 cups of the liquid then follow the other directions.

Ground turkey can be used instead of ground beef. Blend the chili spices into the ground turkey really well so it picks up the color and flavors of the spices.