Chili Cookoff Winner - Range Chili

I won in a chili cook off contest this last week with with this and it was probably the easiest of all the recipes that were submitted. This makes one large crockpot full (about 20 regular sized bowls). For the smaller crockpots or less servings, simply cut in half. It's got a hint of sweet, a bit of smoky and has just the right amount of "hot", so that those that like mild will still eat it and those that like zippy won't fall asleep mid bite. The surprise ingredients, a little bit of cola and some dark unsweetened chocolate.

The Penzey's Chili 9000 spice is available on line. It's worth getting it as it really adds something. For IN residents there is a Penzey's store on the Northeast side of the city and there's a couple in Ohio as well as I have gotten the spice as gifts from that area.

2 29 ounce cans tomato sauce
2 28 ounce cans chopped, diced or stewed tomatoes, or any combination thereof
2 cups diced onions
1 heaping tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1 pound thick cut applewood smoked peppered bacon, cooked until done but not too crispy and then chopped into bite sized pieces.
3 pounds burger or venison (lean as you can get it)
2 pounds Jimmy Dean or Bob Evans spicy breakfast sausage
4 small cans kidney beans - drained and rinsed (canned beans have a LOT of sodium)
1 bottle (about 18 ounces I think) Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce
1/2 cup Penzey's 9000 chili seasoning (yes, that's right 1/2 cup)
1/3 teaspoon crushed dried red pepper flakes
approx. 3/4 cup Coca Cola (not Pepsi and certainly not diet) If you can get the Mexican Coka Cola in the glass bottles that's made with real sugar (found at Cosco and sometimes in the Hispanic section of the supermarket, use it)
2 individually wrapped squares Baker's unsweetened dark chocolate, finely chopped (each square breaks into two pieces so it's pretty easy to chop up).

Cook the meats separately and drain well. Saute the onion in with the burger so that it caramelizes. Mix in with rest of ingredients adding the dark chocolate last. Cook in the crockpot on high about 2 hours, or on low 4-6 as as desired. It's even better if you make it the day before and let heat on low for a few hours before serving.

I've never seen anyone not eat a second bowl of this.