Cook Off Winner Chili - Texas Style

I can't take credit for this winner - its a good friend's recipe.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon  salad oil
• 2  lbs stewing beef, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1  cup  coarsely chopped onion
• 1⁄4 cup  diced green pepper
• 2  cloves garlic, minced
• 2 (16 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1 -3  hot pepper, finely chopped
• 2  tablespoons Mexican chili powder
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 2  bay leaves
• 2 (16 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
• 1⁄2 cup  grated cheddar cheese or 1⁄2 cup monterey jack cheese (or combo)

Directions

1. Heat oil over medium high heat in a large dutch oven.
2. Add beef, onions, green pepper& garlic and cook until onion is tender (about 10 minutes), stirring frequently.
3. Add tomatoes& their liquid, hot peppers, chili powder, salt& bay leaves and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to low, cover& simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. Remove bay leaves.
6. Stir in beans& their liquid and heat thoroughly.
7. Serve in soup bowls; sprinkle with cheddar or monterey jack cheese (or a comb).
8. Place under broiler for 1- 2 minutes to melt.
9. Serve with your choice of sliced green onions, diced avocados, chopped green peppers, hunks of crusty bread, corn chips,saltine crackers or tortilla chips as accompaniments.