Al Smith's First Place Chili

Al Smith won first prize with this recipe in a Texas chili cookoff.

Ingredients

• 4 lb course-ground chopped sirloin or -- tenderloin
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small can tomato paste with water -- up to 2 cans
    OR fresh tomatoes, finely chopped
    OR canned tomatoes, pressed through a colander
• 1 TBL cumin seed, ground
    OR ground cumin
• 1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 3 1/2 medium onions, finely choped
• olive oil
• 3 TBL chili powder
• 1/2 tsp sweet basil
• 1 TBL oregano

Preparation

Cook and stir beef, onion and garlic in 4-quart Dutch oven until beef is brown. Stir in remaining ingredients cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until beef is tender, 2-3 hours.