Chili leak: President Doti reveals his favorite chili recipe This Sicilian-style Homecoming dish is fit for a king. Or at least a president.

Not to be outdone in the age of Web-leaks, President Doti has granted us access to the most secret and secure of Chapman University official records: his recipe box.

The following is a highly taste-sensitive document, only meant to be used for the good of the chili-eating people, particularly the chili-fans of the Chapman Family Homecoming Celebration this weekend. We at Happenings blog take no responsibility for dinnertime menu upheaval, as you will undoubtedly scrap that pot-roast you had planned for this instead.

Jim Doti’s Italian Chili

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 onions, chopped

1 sweet green or red pepper, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

3 Italian sausage links, removed from the casing.  (Preferably hot sausages, such as the ones sold at Celestino’s Meats on 17^th Street in Costa Mesa.)

1 16-oz can chopped tomatoes

3 minced garlic cloves (optional)

2 cups good red wine (can be replaced by chicken stock)

1 16-oz can white cannellini beans

2 tablespoons chopped green chilies (I like hot, so I get Serrano chilies)

1 can tomato paste

1 tablespoon chili powder (the darker, the better)

1 tablespoon of fennel seeds (Doti likes to grind them in coffee grinder)

½ teaspoon oregano

½ teaspoon course salt

½ teaspoon pepper

Directions:

In a saucepan, saute the onion, garlic and sweet pepper in oil until tender-crisp.  Crumble the Italian sausage into a skillet and cook over medium heat until brown; drain the oil.  Add sausage along with remaining ingredients and seasonings to saucepan and stir in.  Reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, or until thickened.

Top chili with grated Parmesan cheese, chopped basil leaves and a little olive oil.

Piece de resistance:  Top with a teaspoon of “Jim’s Hot Giardiniera,” if, of course, you are one of the anointed to have received a gift of it from “Jim Doti’s Farm & Kitchen.”

Above: Jim Doti poses for photo at a previous Chili Cook-Off with students costumed to look like himself and a panther.