Jailhouse Chili

This is Andy's uncle's recipe.  He's big into dutch-ovening. I remember he made this when we were dating and I LOVED it. Lucky me - it was in the recipe book that Andy's cousin gave me for my bridal shower. Yum. It is sweet and spicy and thick --- which I love. You could change any of that up I suppose if you don't like chili the way I like my chili.  I made this the other day because soup/stew/chili days are running low around here with the weather warming up, so I had to make it one more time :). Plus, it is super duper fast. Also, I know that Jeff won your chili cook off Nettie (right?), but I dare you to try this one this year.

1 lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 can diced green chilies
1 can jalapeno peppers (WAY too hot ... I add a little at a time. Maybe 1/2 a can. I once used this much and yowzas!)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
2 T chili powder
1 T cumin
1 T vinegar
2 T brown sugar (I add a little more)
1 T oil (I never add this ... I don't get the point of it)
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Salt and Pepper
Dash of oregano
Dash of curry powder (yum ... this really gives it that little something)

Cook ground beef and onions until cooked through; add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  Add green chilies, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, vinegar, brown sugar, and drained beans. Simmer for 1 1/2 -2 hours (I never wait this long ... I let it go for as long as it takes to get the table set, kitchen picked up some, etc ... )

I actually just add 1 packet of Chili Seasoning from the store + little extra cumin and the oregano and curry powder instead of the seasonings separate. I don't know why. That's how I did the first time I made it and I never changed. I'm sure I get more seasonings that way. I also add a little water to thin it out (I told you it was a thick chili) ... or sometimes I just use a can of tomato sauce if I don't have (or forgot to buy) tomato paste and that makes it thinner. This doesn't make a whole lot ... enough for my little family x2 meals. So if you have more kids, I would double (or triple if you want leftovers). I double it when I want lots of leftovers. And I'll add this: I think when I doubled the batch, I added more beans and didn't quite double the meat ... just so I'm not using up so much of my beef, makes it cheaper. I usually make cornbread with it. This meal fills me up! Little Sammy loves it too.