Midwest Chili

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced

• 1 (6 ounce)  tomato paste

• 1 (16 ounce)  kidney beans or chili beans (do not rinse or drain)
• 12 ounces V8 vegetable juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

• 1 (32 ounce) can whole tomatoes (cut into chunks)
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup elbow macaroni, raw

Directions

1. 1

   In a dutch oven, brown the ground beef with onion and celery and drain any excess fat from the meat.

2. 2

   Add remaining ingredients (tomato paste through 4 cups of water) EXCEPT macaroni.

3. 3

   Simmer for at least 3 hours.

4. 4

   Prepare the macaroni according to package directions (cook in additional salted water).

5. 5

   Drain macaroni and add to chili.

6. 6

   Simmer this mixture for an additional 15 to 30 minutes.