Shelly's Recipe

ITALIAN CHILI

Category: Chili

3 1/2 pounds regular or turkey Italian sausage
1 large onion, diced
1 green pepper, 1 red pepper, diced
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large cloves garlic, minced
3 15.5 ounce cans cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
Salt and pepper to taste
2 or more tablespoons Italian seasoning
29-ounce can tomato sauce
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
28-ounce can diced tomatoes
Crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Parmesan cheese for garnish
Banana peppers for garnish, optional

Brown sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove sausage and place in a sieve to drain the grease. Place sausage in a large pot.

Cook onion and peppers in olive oil over medium-high heat until slightly browned. Add garlic and cook another 2 minutes. Transfer to pot. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the skillet and stir, scraping up browned bits. Add water to pot. Add beans, salt and pepper and Italian seasoning. Add tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes and, if desired, crushed red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly. Cook over low heat about 4 hours, stirring occasionally. If the chili gets too thick, add a little water to the pot (about 1/2 to 1 cup). Serve with parmesan, banana peppers and garlic bread. Serves 10 to 12.