Chili with chocolate

This is a delicious chili that includes chocolate as an ingredient. I've modified this recipe from one by Paula Deen.  It feeds four people or two with leftovers. 

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef

1 chopped onions

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 red, yellow, or orange pepper, seeded and minced

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

One 15-ounce cans dark chili beans, undrained

One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes

2 cups tomato sauce

Optional garnishes: Sour cream, shredded cheese, minced chives

Directions

In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and cook until browned. Next, add the onions, chili powder and cumin, and stir together. Add the cocoa, garlic and peppers, mix together and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add in the dark brown chili beans, cayenne pepper and oregano, and cook for another minute. Add the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Garnish with sour cream, shredded cheese and chives if desired.

Serve with spinach salad topped with fresh sliced mushrooms, thin-sliced red onions, bacon bits, dried cranberries and vinaigrette.