New Year's Day Chili Mix in a Basket

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) package dried kidney beans
• 1 tablespoon instant minced onion
• 2 teaspoons beef-flavored bouillon granules
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 1 small bay leaf
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 small basket

Instructions

1. Place beans in an airtight plastic bag; set aside.
2. Combine instant minced onion and next 3 ingredients; place in a small airtight plastic bag and, if desired, in a decorative paper bag, and label "Flavoring Packet."
3. Combine chili powder and oregano, ground red pepper and bay leaf; place in a small airtight plastic bag and, if desired, in a decorative paper bag, and label "Seasoning Packet."
4. Place the bag of beans, flavoring packet, seasoning packet, and the two cans in a small basket.
5. Attach a pretty ribbon and a gift tag with the following recipe.

New Year's Day Chili

Packet of beans
Flavoring packet
7 cups water
1 pound ground beef
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
Seasoning packet

Sort and wash beans; place in a large Dutch oven. Cover with water and let soak for 8 hours.

Drain beans. Combine beans, flavoring packet and water in a large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour stirring occasionally.

Stir in ground beef, cooked and drained, tomato sauce, tomato paste and seasoning packet. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove and discard bay leaf.

Yield: 11 cups