On those long, cold days in February, few things warm you to your core as well as a hot cup of chili. And on the fourth Thursday in February, America celebrates that delicious dish with National Chili Day! We asked Tomeka Smith, dietary director at Aultman Orrville, if she would share one of her favorite chili recipes. Here is her Awesome Chili Recipe. Let us know what you think!

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. of lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 large yellow onion (diced)
4 garlic cloves (minced)
2 cups diced canned tomatoes
8 oz. tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon dried oregano flakes
1 tablespoon salt (use less salt if needed, please taste before serving)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sugar or (1 pkg. of sugar substitute)
2 16 oz. cans mild chili beans (red kidney beans-if you prefer)
¼ teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil
1-quart tomato juice
Optional 1 jalapeno (diced with seeds-if you like a little more heat)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat; cook and stir onion and garlic in the hot oil until softened.

2. Add ground beef, cook and stir beef until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; and continue to cook, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, about 3 minutes. Stir diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice, chili powder, cumin, sugar, paprika, salt, oregano, and black pepper into meat mixture. Add kidney beans and bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until flavors have developed in the chili, about 60 minutes, stirring occasionally. If you like thicker chili: add less tomato juice, if you like chili soup: add 1 cup extra of tomato juice or water

NUTRITION FACTS: 

Per Serving: 406 calories, 21.1 g fat, 27.6 g carbohydrates, 25.2 g protein, 74 mg cholesterol, 1014 mg sodium.