LENORE'S CHILI FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Soak one 32-ounce package of small red beans in a large pan over night to soften the beans. Drain. In the morning, simmer your beans for two hours in fresh water with 2 or 3 carrot pieces (secret ingredient to eliminate consumers from getting gas when eating this chili!), and a couple of teaspoons of salt. During the last hour while the beans are cooking, brown 4 pounds of hamburger meat with three chopped onions. Salt and pepper to taste. (I usually use Lawry's seasoning salt and pepper.) When beans are tender and have finished cooking, drain the water they cooked in and add fresh water. Heat and add the hamburger mixture. Add 5 - 28 ounce cans of chopped tomatoes. Add one large can of tomato sauce. Add 3 - 4 Tablespoons of salt and 4 Tablespoons of chili powder. Cook and simmer for an hour. (I actually let it simmer all day on the stove and the flavors really blend and it even tastes better! I end up adding a couple of glasses of water throughout the day as the chili simmers down) The above ingredients are for a LARGE pan of chili. Cut recipe in half for smaller amounts. Note: Season to taste. The amounts of salt and chili powder are close but I taste as I go. Remember, you can always add more seasonings but if you add too much up front you can't take any out later! Large batches can be frozen for later use! (Yummy!)