Chili Weather Finally

I don't know why I think it needs to be cold to make chili, it just seems to go better with cold weather. We finally had some cold, rainy weather today so I took advantage and made chili. Everyone makes their chili different ways and serve it with different things too. Wick Fowler won the cook-off in the renowned chili cook-off in Terlingua, Texas back in the 60's. His chili mix comes in 'False Alarm', 1-alarm, 2-alarm, and even 3-alarm, getting hotter and hotter which each version. I think his seasoning mix makes the best chili by far.

CHILI MY WAY
1 pound ground meat
1/2 onion chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 package Wick Fowler's Texas-Style 1-Alarm Chili Seasoning Mix
1 can Ro-Tel original tomatoes and diced chilies
1 can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
1/2 small can tomato sauce
1 can water
1 can pinto beans (optional)

Place meat in a dutch oven and add salt and pepper to taste. Cook meat with onion until crumbly and no longer pink. Drain off fat. Add fire-roasted tomatoes and smash with a potato masher to get tomatoes crushed. Add Ro-Tel tomatoes and chilies and mash until crushed. Add chili seasoning packet. Simmer on low for about an hour. Serve with rice or cornbread or Frito's or flour tortillas. Can add cheese or sour cream to your liking.