Sweet and Smokey Beef Chilli

Tis the season for chilli? Yes - if you're me and crazy-busy and meal planning to have good food handy so you don't grab the convient crappy alternative. It freezes nicely for a rainy day - whenever one of those comes around again!

I must start by stating that I used a LOT of spices and didn't measure. I just kept adding until it tasted good.

1 Package of lean ground beef
($7 - to give you a size to go by)
2 19oz cans of diced tomatoes (no salt added and drained)
1 19oz can of crushed tomato
1 Yellow onion diced
1 Large garlic clove minced
1 Green pepper diced
3 Stalks of celery diced
1/2 Red pepper diced
1 Smallish zucchinni
5 White mushrooms
1 Cup frozen corn
1 Can kidney beans
1 Can black beans
2-3 Tbsp italian seasoning blend
2-3 Tbsp chilli powder
1-2 Tbsp cumin
1/4 Cup brown sugar
Salt and pepper
Canola Oil


Directions:

Cook the meat separately - once it is really browned add in cumin and chilli powder with a little salt and pepper.

In a pot soften onion in olive oil with salt and pepper. Add garlic then the rest of the veg. Soften a bit and season as you go. Add in more oil if necessary. Once the tomato's are added then add the italian seasoning blend and the other softer vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini. Add meat and beans last.

Let the ingredients hang out at a light simmer for 30 mins or so. I added about 2 tbsp of brown sugar to balance the acidity. It gives it a sweet and smokey taste. I also added a little extra chilli powder to the pot at the end to richen the flavour.