The basic bean meat chilli is as follows  Brown Garlic + Onion + ground meat (any) + boiled beans + tomato sauce + spices (e.g. chilli powder etc).   Now I want to know if there another sauce that can swap out for tomato sauce if I get tired of it. I need something suitable for students or working professionals who don't have the time to "make their own special sauce". But tomato sauce just seems to be a good combination of liquid + thickening agent that I don't know what can be its equal.  Sorry if the tags aren't accurate, I wasn't sure what would be appropriate. 
There is a kraut cutter, a wooden board about 2 ft long with a diagonal blade.  We used all the time when I was a child. We laid it on a large pot.  You cut heads of cabbage in half and push it over the blade flat side down.  Try google or an old fashioned hard ware.   