As winter lingers on, a nice hot bowl of chili is always welcome for dinner. Even better if the chili tastes just like pizza and is fast and easy to make.

Pepperoni Pizza Chili

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
16 oz can kidney beans, drained
14 oz jar of pizza sauce
14.5 oz can Italian stewed tomatoes
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups water
3 1/2 oz sliced pepperoni
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Shredded mozzarella cheese to serve (and, if you are me, sliced pickled jalapeños). Breadsticks would be good served alongside. Tortilla chips work, too.

Directions:

1. In a large pot, cook beef until no longer pink. Drain.

2. Stir in the beans, pizza sauce, tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, pepperoni, green pepper and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the chili reaches the desired thickness.

4. Sprinkle with mozzarella and serve.

Serves 8

Here are two recently released songs.

Says Michael Stipe of Oh My Heart: “It’s a very quiet and very meditative song dedicated to New Orleans.” That makes it perfect for post Mardi Gras contemplation, no?

R.E.M.-Oh My Heart

The latest from Lykke Li. Unrequited love sucks, but this song certainly doesn’t.

Lykke Li-Unrequited Love

Cheers!