Nothing like the smell of chili wafting through the house to remind you that 1) it’s fall, and 2) dinner is ready and waiting! Mmmm! Everyone seems to have their own recipe for chili, but if you’re looking a simple no-fuss recipe, look no further than what I like to call “Noah’s Ark Chili” – the ingredients go into the crock pot two by two 🙂 I like to make my chili in the morning and put it in the crockpot on low until dinner. Then all I have to do is dish it up when dinner rolls around….and of course set out the toppings!

Funny little story that happened when we were first married. I told Sam I was making chili for dinner, so I assembled everything and into the crockpot it all went to simmer while I was at work. After getting home, I told Sam dinner would be ready as soon as I boiled the spaghetti noodles, to which he replied, “I thought we were having chili?” I was a little baffled and said, “We are. Haven’t you smelled it cooking all day?” So, Sam walks out to the kitchen and sees the spaghetti noodles boiling away, the container of cottage cheese and bag of shredded cheese on the counter, and the Ritz Crackers and jug of milk on the table. His confused and slightly horrified look was priceless! I learned that dinner that not everyone eats chili the way my family did growing up – spaghetti in the bottom of the bowl, then chili on top, followed by shredded cheese, a scoop of cottage cheese, crushed Ritz crackers, and if it’s still too hot to eat, a little splash of milk over everything. The way Sam eats chili? Parmesan cheese. That’s it.

Enjoy your chili any way you want, and don’t be afraid to try someone else’s version, too 🙂

Chili

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 2 handfuls frozen, diced onion
• 2 cans kidney beans, drained
• 2 cans tomato juice
• 2 cans diced tomatoes with oregano, basil, garlic
• 2 Tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• Toppings – shredded cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, crackers, parmesan cheese, etc.

1. Brown ground beef and onions until meat is cooked. Chop beef as you cook. Drain.
2. Add beef/onion mix and the rest of ingredients to a slow cooker.
3. Cook on low for 6+ hours
4. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy 🙂

**Notes: I sometimes use one can of regular kidney beans and one can of chili kidney beans, but you can use both of the same cans. Also, if you can’t find the diced tomatoes with basil/garlic/oregano you can use regular diced tomatoes and add your own seasonings.