Mom's GS Chili

Growing up, my mom ran a Girl Scout troop. And while this recipe isn't officially endorsed, it came to be known in our house as "Girl Scout" chili. It's one of those home recipes that uses common ingredients like tomato juice and kidney beans to deliver flavor. I have kicked it up from my mom's version; she definitely wouldn't have added all the spices I have.

Annotated Cooking Notes: I didn't include it in the recipe, but anytime I'm stewing meat in tomato sauce, I always add a shot of Ketchup, the sugars in ketchup help soften up and tenderize the meat.

Ingredients

2 lbs of ground meat

1 29 oz can kidney beans with juice

2 bell peppers, diced

2 carrots, diced

1 onion, diced

1 64 oz bottle of tomato juice

1 cup beef broth

2 packets French onion soup/dip mix

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp cumin

2 tbsp oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

In a large pot, heat oil.

Add peppers, onions, and carrots, and sweat them until soft.

Add in the beef and break it up with a spatula, cook until the pink is gone.

Add the beef broth and packets of French onion soup mix, and stir in the beef.

Add cumin and chili powder, and mix all the ingredients.

Add kidney beans and juice.

Add enough tomato juice to cover all ingredients.

Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Keep cooking until the sauce reduces and the chili thickens.

Serve with crackers.