Hearty Logger’s Chili

1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
1 lb kielbasa sausage
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 16 oz can drained and rinsed kidney beans (or soak and cook ¾ cup dry beans)
1 16 oz can drained and rinsed black beans (or soak and cook ¾ cup dry beans)
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes (2 cups)
1 16 oz can tomato sauce
2 bay leaves
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp oregano
1/3 tsp white pepper (I usually omit this)
1/3 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Sauté beef in a large pot until cooked through. Drain and set aside. Cut sausage into thin slices and each slice in half. Sauté sausage in pot until lightly browned. Remove sausage and sauté onion and red pepper in the drippings until soft but not brown. Add garlic and sate 2 min more. Add all of the other ingredients plus the beef and sausage back into the pot and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. This freezes really well, too.

We had this chili at Rachels a few weeks ago and it was amazing.  Real Man Food.