Kicking Chili

Submitted by:  Angela Silverthorne

Cooking time:  2 hours

Ingredients:
     -  1 Tbl. vegetable oil
     -  2 lbs. ground beef, browned and drained
     -  2 c. chopped yellow onion
     -  1 1/2 Tbl. chili powder
     -  1/2 Tbl. ground cumin
     -  1 tsp. Emeril's Southwest Essence (or other SW/cajun seasoning)
     -  1 tsp. cayenne pepper
     -  1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
     -  1/8 tsp. red pepper
     -  1 bay leaf
     -  1 Tbl. minced garlic
     -  1 (28 oz) cans whole tomatoes, crushed
     -  1 Tbl. tomato paste
     -  1/2 Tbl. salt
     -  1/2 Tbl. + 1 tsp. dark brown sugar
     -  1/2 oz (1 square) unsweetened chocolate
     -  O' Doul's Dark Beer
     -  3 c. red Kidney beans
     -  Optional garnish:  1 c. Cheddar Cheese & 1/2 c. chopped cilantro & 1 c. chopped green onion

Directions:
1)  Brown beef ~10 min; add onions, chili powder, cumin, SW seasoning, cayenne, cinnamon, pepper and bay leaf.  Cook for ~ 8 min.  Add garlic and cook ~ 1 more minute.
2)  Add beer and cook for another 1-2 min (until foam subsides).  Add tomatoes, paste, salt, sugar and chocolate; bringing to a boil.  Once you reach a boil, reduce to simmer for 1 hour (or until thickened).  Skim off fat if necessary.
3)  Add beans and return to simmer for 1-1/2 hours.

Note:  To cook (uncanned) kidney beans, soak 1 lb. dried beans for 6 hours overnight; drain and cover with water and boil; simmer 30-45 min, drain and cool