Our Favorite Game-Day Chili

When the games come back on and the air turns crisp, this is the pot that lives on our stove. It's simple, forgiving, and always disappears.

Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 cans diced tomatoes 2 cans kidney beans, drained 1 can tomato sauce 2 tbsp chili powder 1 tbsp cumin Salt and pepper to taste

Steps: 1. Brown the beef with the onion over medium heat, then drain. 2. Stir in the garlic and cook one minute. 3. Add everything else, stir, and bring to a simmer. 4. Lower the heat and let it go for at least 45 minutes, stirring now and then. 5. Taste, adjust the spice, and serve with cornbread or shredded cheese.

Now the splash of safety, because we can't help ourselves: unattended cooking is the number-one cause of home fires. A pot of chili needs an occasional stir, so stay in the kitchen while the stove is on, and make sure your smoke detectors have fresh batteries. Good food, warm house, everybody safe. That's a win.