Beef & Bean Chili

It's that time of year where I constantly crave things like chili. I finally decided to just make some to have on hand...and to share of course! This was a pretty straight forward chili recipe, and didn't take long at all. It made my place smell wonderful, and it didn't taste too shabby either...especially with the sharp cheddar and sour cream on top!

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 diced onion
1 diced green bell pepper
1/4 c. sliced pickled jalapeno peppers (optional)
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can kideny beans, rinsed and drained
2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
2-3 dashes of hot sauce (optional)
shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
light sour cream (optional)

In a Dutch oven, cook ground beef, onion, green pepper, and jalapenos over medium high heat until ground beef is browned and vegetables are tender, approximately 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, chili powder, cumin, coriander, red pepper, salt and hot sauce and stir thoroughly. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream, if desired.