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This chili will make you feel fatter when you’re done eating it but it is really pretty great, if I do say so myself. I call it “Cocoa’s Secret” because I was trying to perfect my chili recipe and asked my boyfriend’s Mother for her recipe because I thought it was pretty good stuff and she refused to share it with me (she’s of those) but did tell me that she added cocoa, so I tried it out and wow.

2 cups of wine (the first time I made it, I used some leftover champagne because it was all I had and it was fantastic.)
2 lbs. medium Italian sausage
1 lb. ground beef
2 tbsp. olive oil
salt n’ pepper
2 tsp. cumin
2 tbsp. oregano
2 tbsp. tomato paste
¼ cup cocoa powder
2 cans red kidney beans
1 big can of diced tomatoes
1 ½ yellow onions, chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
4 cerrano peppers, chopped

Directions:

Sautee that onion in some olive oil in a dutch oven, until it becomes transparent and maybe a little tan-ish, then put aside in a separate bowl. While the pot is still hot, throw in sausage and ground beef and proceed to brown. Once browned, add cumin, salt, pepper, oregano and garlic. Stir this for maybe a minute then add sautéed onion, cocoa, tomato paste, kidney beans (do not drain), tomatoes and peppers. Stir it all up, put the lid on and let this simmer for 45 minutes. It’s gonna be good today but it’s going to be awesome tomorrow.

(Miranda put this one together on 11/12/2009)