Chili for Chilly Days

WW POINTS: 4
Servings: 12

This tastes just like chili from the Wendy's fast food restaurant, yum!

2 lbs extra lean ground beef (or turkey)
29 oz can of tomato sauce
2- 15 oz cans of kidney beans, with liquid
2- 15 oz cans of pinto beans, with liquid
1 Cup diced onion
1/2 Cup finely diced celery
green pepper (optional)
3 cans diced tomatoes w/chili peppers (like Ro-Tel), two with liquid and one drained
1-2 tsp cumin to taste
1-3 Tbs chili powder to taste (I like about 1 1/2 TB)
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
2 Cups water

Cook ground beef, onion, celery, and green pepper until beef is browned and cooked through and vegetables are softened. Drain. Rinse with very hot water to remove all fat. Place in a large crock pot and add all other ingredients: beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes with chili peppers, cumin, chili powder, pepper, and water. Cook on high for 4-6 hours. This makes a HUGE crock pot full and may over flow a bit while bubbling. Keep lid cracked a bit to prevent boiling over.

You may wish to simmer on the stove.

You can make this extra special by choosing roasted tomatoes. Adjust the heat of the dish by choosing canned tomatoes with peppers in heat level that you prefer.