Heather's Texas Chili

I have to post this recipe because we've gone so crazy for it that I've made it the past THREE weekends in a row! I'm having so many requests for the recipe I thought I'd just post it here and that way everyone can share:

Heather’s Texas Chili (spicy!)

1 package Hot Italian Sausage (just as good with turkey sausage)
1 lb. top round steak
Steak Marinade
2T olive oil
3 small onions, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large can beef broth (the great big one)
1 small can tomato paste
3T flour
1.5T cumin
3T oregano
3T chili powder
2 dried chilies (seeds removed and chopped) (or 1-2t. red pepper flakes)
1.5t Tabasco
1.5t pepper
1 bay leaf
salt

Marinate round steak in marinade overnight.

Cut steak into small bite sized pieces, remove excess marinade. Sear steak in olive oil in pan. Remove steak from pan and set aside.

Remove sausage from casings, brown in pan. Remove from pan and set aside with steak.

In oil from browning the steak and sausage, cook onions, green pepper and garlic until soft and onions are translucent. Add a pinch of salt to let more water out of the onions.

Add flour, oregano, cumin, chilies, pepper, Tabasco to onion mixture. Stir over low heat until it forms a golden colored paste.

Add tomato paste, beef broth, bay leaves, and mix everything together well. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes to thicken the broth and until all the meat is cooked through.

To make a thicker broth, remove about ½ cup of the chili and mix with 3t. cornstarch, more or less as needed. Once cornstarch is completely dissolved, add back into the pot to thicken the rest of the chili. (It will also thicken more the next day.)

Serve over rice or pasta, with cheese and sourcream.

A few sidenotes: If you want it less spicy substitute red pepper flakes (about 1 or 2 teaspoons) for the dried chilies.

This makes a decent size pot, enough for a few meals for two people, or to make for a crowd (or to freeze for later) double the recipe.