Slow Cooker Chili

I used to find the flavor of chili a bit monotonous after a bowl or two and then wondered what to do with the rest of the pot. Not any more! I've finally found a combination of ingredients I really like. Plus, the additional toppings add fantastic freshness and flavor. 

One of the beautiful things about this recipe you'll notice, besides the fact it's conveniently cooked in the crock pot, is that most of the ingredients are added in twos, so it's easier to shop for the ingredients at the spur of the moment without the recipe on hand. You can add more meat and less beans, though, if that's your preference.

Here's what you need:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 stalks celery
• 2 onions
• 2 carrots
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 2 29-oz cans tomato sauce 
• 2 cans pinto beans
• 2 cans kidney beans
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp dried oregano or marjoram
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder

Chili topping options (very important!): 

• Scallions, chopped
• Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
• Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• Avocado, diced and tossed with lemon or lime, salt, pepper
• Fresh lime wedges
• Sour cream
• Hot sauce

Here's what you do:

1. Dice onions, celery, carrots, and garlic.
   
   
2. In large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add ground beef with a dash salt and pepper. Break up beef with spatula. Let brown for around 5 minutes.
   
   
3. When beef is starting to get brown, add veggies to skillet along with a bit more salt, pepper, and a dash garlic powder. Saute 5 minutes until veggies begin to soften.
   
   
4. Meanwhile, drain and rinse beans. Add beans and tomato sauce to crock pot.
   
   
5. Next, add meat and veggies to crock pot, along with cumin, chili powder, and oregano or marjoram. Mix well.
   
   
6. Cook on high for about an hour, then cook on low 4-6 hours (or you could just cook on low 5-6 hours).
   
   
7. Before serving, prepare your toppings. Serve up chili in bowls, and let everyone top their own chili.

This chili goes great with corn bread. It makes a crock pot full, and two adults can easily eat 2-3 meals. My toddler prefers finger foods, so I put chili on toast for him, covered with a bit of cheddar, cut into squares, and he loves it!