Carrie's Chili for Bean and Meat Lovers

Ingredients

• 1 onion
• diced
• 2 garlic cloves
• minced
• 1 green pepper
• diced
• 2 carrots
• diced
• 1 lb ground beef (not too lean)
• 2 links Italian sausage
• casings removed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 cup tomato sauce (use your favorite spaghetti sauce blend)
• 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can dark red kidney beans (NOT DRAINED)
• 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans (DRAINED AND RINSED)
• 1 (15 1/2 ounce) can white kidney beans (DRAINED AND RINSED)
• 2 teaspoons beef base (may substitute one cup of beef broth)
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup water (add if using beef base)

Instructions

1. In large stock pot, combine beef and sausage.
2. Season with salt, pepper and cumin.
3. Add onions and garlic.
4. Brown meat mixture thoroughly.
5. Add green pepper, carrots, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, chili powder, beef base and water.
6. Combine and bring to boil.
7. Reduce to simmer, covered for 1 hour or until vegetables are tender.