From My Kitchen To Yours - Best Chili EVER

Be warned. I totally invented this recipe. Now that I've got disclaimer out of the way, I'll add that it is really good. And easy. Your crockpot will do 75% of the work for you.

We eat this at least 30 times a year around my house, sometimes more. Partly because it's really cheap to make (can I get an Amen!) and partly because there is nothing better on a winter day that a hot bowl of chili.

So without further ado:

My Chili

1 pound ground beef
1/2 an onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, diced
1 large can whole tomatoes*
1 small can tomato sauce
1 can fire roasted tomatoes (this adds a great smoky flavor)
1 can diced green chilis
2 cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can Mild Rotel (optional, this adds a little extra heat and your kiddos might not like it)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin**
salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef in frying pan. When thoroughly cooked add onions and garlic and cook until onions are clear. Add salt and pepper and then put ground beef mixture in crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Cook on low four to six hours.

Serve with Fritos and grated cheese. This recipe will make enough to feed four adults with enough left over for lunch the next day. I made this last week and trippled the recipe. It made enough for five meals. I froze four servings for later.

* You may want to cut up the whole tomatoes if they're really big. There's nothing worse than biting into a big tomato and squirting juice all over the table - not that it's ever happened to me or anything :-)

** This is the one ingredient in this recipe you absolutely can not leave out. When cooking Mexican food this your most essential spice. I often play with the amount of chili powder and cumin until it tastes right to me. Feel free to do the same.

Enjoy!