So, let's get this out of the way. I'm a little weird about ground beef.
Like, never eaten a whole hamburger in my life, weird.
Like, cook with ground turkey or chicken any chance I can, weird.
Like, I somehow prefer hot dogs at a barbecue, weird.
And give me a rare steak and I will eat it with a smile on my goddamn face.
But something about hamburger just does not appeal to me.

However, of course, there are exceptions to every rule--

• [When it's one of three types of meat] in really good meatballs.
• In a bolognese or some delicious sauce with pasta.
• And, of freaking course...chili.

This is my parents' classic recipe that I add a touch of heat to with some jalapenos. This is the first dish I learned to make when I moved on my own (probably because it has about 4 steps in preparation and 3 more in execution), and I still love to cook it up on a Sunday, while the guys watch football and play video games in the living room.

• 2-3 lbs lean hamburger (I don't drain it, so I like to get 90/10 or 93/7 to make the chili less greasy)
• Multi-colored bell peppers (I used green, red and yellow), diced
• Large white onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2-3 good-sized jalapenos, ribs and seeds removed, diced
• Large can (29 oz) of crushed tomatoes
• 2 cans (15 oz ea.) of kidney beans (I used dark red and light red)
• Salt, pepper
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• In a large pan, begin to brown hamburger
• Add in peppers, onions, garlic and jalapenos and allow to cook with the meat
• Once hamburger is browned, add tomatoes and dry seasonings
• Allow to simmer for about 30 minutes
• Adjust seasoning to taste, then add beans
• Cook through, about ten minutes longer
• Cover with cheddar and sour cream (or absolutely do NOT do that, if you want to eat it like Mr. Beauchesne himself), or serve with a baked potato, and definitely a beer.
• Happy Sunday