Lean Ground Beef Chili

1.5 lbs. Extra Lean Ground Beef or Ground Sirloin
2 (16 oz.) cans tomatoes, cut up
2 (15 1/2 oz.) cans red kidney beans, drained
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 to 2 tbsp. chili powder, to taste
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
3/4 tsp. dried basil, crushed
3/4 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper, to taste
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup dry red wine (optional)
Green or yellow sweet peppers, cut into rings (optional)

In a 4 quart Dutch oven cook the beef until no longer pink. Drain off fat. Stir in undrained tomatoes, drained kidney beans, tomato sauce, onion, wine, chili powder, parsley flakes, basil, oregano, black pepper, salt, cinnamon, garlic, red pepper and bay leaf. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer covered, about 2 hours; stir occasionally. Garnish with green or yellow pepper rings.

(Note: I like to prepare the beef with an additional clove of garlic and seasoning salt, garlic powder, onion powder to taste, original recipe does not call for that)

Number of Servings: 8

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user EURCYNIA.