Chuckwagon Chili

Hello one & all...loving having venison in the freezer again. Here's one we had for dinner last night.  The original recipe came from $5 Dollar Dinners. I modified it to what I had on hand and to suit our taste. 

Chuckwagon Chili

1 cup dried red kidney beans (or 1 can)
1 pound ground red meat (beef, venison)
1 onion, chopped (or 1 TBSP dried onion)
2 - 15 oz. cans of diced tomatoes (or 1 quart home canned)
1 6 oz. can tomato paste
1 TBSP garlic powder
2 TBSP chili powder
2 tsp salt
pepper to taste
4 cups "fun pasta", shells, wagon wheels, small bowties
shredded cheese, diced onion, sour cream...whatever sounds good to you for on top of individual bowls

Directions

Soak and cook dried beans (if using). Drain and rinse beans.  In the same pot brown meat and onions till cooked through. Drain off any fat. Return to pot. Cook pasta in a seperate pot according to package directions. Combine the meat/onions, red beans, diced tomatoes (undrained), tomato paste plus 1-2 cans of water, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or so to blend flavors. Add pasta and heat through.  Spoon into individual bowls and top with personal choice of items.  We had "the works" and it got 2 thumbs up all the way around! I served it with homemade applesauce and multi colored pepper strips.

Make and enjoy! Blessings, Eve