All-American Chili

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups chili and 1 tablespoon cheese)

Ingredients

• 6  ounces  hot turkey Italian sausage
• 2  cups  chopped onion
• 1  cup  chopped green bell pepper
• 8  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  pound  ground sirloin
• 1  jalapeño pepper, chopped
• 2  tablespoons  chili powder
• 2  tablespoons  brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon  ground cumin
• 3  tablespoons  tomato paste
• 1  teaspoon  dried oregano
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 2  bay leaves
• 1 1/4  cups  Merlot or other fruity red wine
• 2  (28-ounce) cans whole tomatoes, undrained and coarsely chopped
• 2  (15-ounce) cans kidney beans, drained
• 1/2  cup  (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Preparation

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage, onion, and the next 4 ingredients (onion through jalapeño) to pan; cook 8 minutes or until sausage and beef are browned, stirring to crumble.

Add chili powder and the next 7 ingredients (chili powder through bay leaves), and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine, tomatoes, and kidney beans; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Uncover and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Discard the bay leaves. Sprinkle each serving with cheddar cheese.

Note: Like most chilis, this version tastes even better the next day.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

375 (29% from fat)

Fat:

12g (sat 4.6g,mono 4.1g,poly 1.1g)

Protein:

28.9g

Carbohydrate:

33.7g

Fiber:

8.2g

Cholesterol:

59mg

Iron:

5mg

Sodium:

969mg

Calcium:

165mg