What's for dinner?

I'm not a fan of ground beef but all the boys like it and Chris is a huge fan of chili. He worked hard today mowing our lawn as well as two of our neighbor's lawns whose husbands are deployed. I wanted to make him something special to reward him for being so kind to others. So here's one of his favorites which just happens to be my sister-in-law's recipe.

Shelley's Chili

1.) Chop onion, and mince 2 cloves of garlic.

2.) Cook beef with onion and garlic until beef is browned and onion is tender.

3.) Drain beef and add spices.

4.) Add remaining ingredients (I found a new home for the half can of organic whole tomatoes that I used earlier in the week!) to crockpot and stir well. Cook on low for 8 hours or high 3-4 hours.

5.) Serve up with some honey cornbread and add cheese if desired. Sour cream is also yummy. Another way that I like to eat mine that Shelley told me about is mixing some cream cheese in the chili and eating it with tortilla chips. So good!

6.) Kid-friendly version....serve with Fritos scoops so they can use them as little spoons!
Shelley's Chili

1 lb ground beef
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper (Chris likes it this way but I prefer it with less.)
2 tsp Chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 cloves garlic, minced)
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 small onion, diced
1 can kidney beans, undrained
2 sm cans tomato sauce

Brown beef and onions (and garlic if using fresh). Drain. Add seasonings. Transfer meat mixture to crockpot and add beans, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce. Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 8-10 hours. Serve with cheese, sour cream or cream cheese. Tortilla chips, fritos scoops and cornbread are also great accompaniments.