Take the chill off…With Chili #fallfestivals #chilicookoff #giveaway

I love fall. Though where I live there are still lots of warm days at least it’s not in the high 90s or 100s. We finally have had a couple of weeks in the mid-’80s and now the 70s which I love. We even had a few nights hit the mid-30s. This is all perfect weather, Nice to drink coffee, hot tea, cocoa and cider. And I love festivals though I haven’t been to any in over five years (not counting the annual one at Dad’s in Hannibal)

Even our small town has a couple. Saturday was the annual Chili cookoff. They block off main street and booths set up and cook chili. This year they added wings and dessert. It wasn’t a big thing but pretty big for our community. all of the service areas got involved, and most of the churches and the school had several. All in all, I think there were 20 or 25. There were some informative booths, and several bake sales, a couple of craft booths and lots of raffles.

My son entered this year, The company he worked for sponsored him, Medic one. This was their first year and they actually won third-place which was awesome. I am so proud of him. My daughter in law and I went and walked around tasting chili and voting for people’s choice.

Chili is one of those things everyone has a recipe and everyone thinks theirs is best. I learned two things yesterday…My dreams when I was younger of being a great chef and judge on cooking shows…Not so sure about that now. Number two…I hate sugar in chili. Yes, several had sugar, a couple, way too much sugar and two something was very scorched. After the last scorched one, I was done. Kara gave up after the one with cinnamon.

I like a lot of beans in my chili. Here is my go-to recipe. (I have developed it over the years and I cannot tell you any amounts since I do not measure.)

Ingredients, two pounds of ground beef browned 1 chopped onion red or regular ( I don’t use sweet onion for this since I like the flavor) 1 Tablespoon minced garlic or 2-3 cloves ( you can omit or add more to your taste) 1 can kidney beans (sometimes two) 1 can red beans (or pinto) 1 can black beans. ( I never use the chili beans in sauce)I have chopped green bell pepper and added it with my onions and it’s pretty tasty too. 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 1 can beef broth, Brown your beef, (salt and pepper it)add onion and garlic about halfway through and cook those with the meat. drain the meat if needed, Meanwhile, in your large soup pot add all beans drained and rinsed, Broth, tomatoes, and sauce. Add browned drained beef. You will probably need to add some water at this point one to two cans depending on how thick or thin you like your chili. I add one mild chili seasoning pouch, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and sometimes garlic powder (I taste the broth first before adding this because hubby only likes a very mild hint of garlic. If he isn’t home I add more) Taste your liquid and adjust for your taste… go lightly at first . You can add salt and pepper I usually don’t at this point, only what I seasoned the meat with). I have a secret ingedient.. 1 heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder ( not the kind you use for chocolate milk but baking cocoa) Bring to a boil then turn to a low simmer. In about half an hour, taste and add more seasonings if desired. simmer another 30-an hour turn off let sit about 10 minutes and serve with crackers, cheese, diced green onion, sour cream, Fritos or any of your favorite toppings I usually sit these all out on the table and let everyone help themselves.

There was one chicken chili and one turkey chili. the turkey chili wasn’t a white chili. But it was my second choice. The white chili wasn’t done when we were tasting. I do make a chicken chili that is pretty good.

2 pounds chicken breast chopped, shredded or ground. ( usually use the shredded I boil my chicken to make my broth, pull it out shredded it. though I have used ground and lie it too. 1 chopped white onion, 2 cans of chicken broth,2-3 cans of cannellini beans or navy beans drained and rinsed, cumin, chili powder to taste. I add a can of chopped chili peppers to mine. Here is a really good recipe with a better ingredient list and directions. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a57946/easy-white-chicken-chili-recipe/

I like a good fiesta chili as well. I have done with either beef or chicken. cook or brown your meat and chopped onion. I use about a tablespoon of jarred minced garlic too. If I use chicken I do it similar to the white chicken chili above, and the Beef one except on the beef one I use only black beans and 1 can pinto beans the chicken I add a can of black beans. I put the green chilis in the beef one and I put a bag of frozen corn thawed and drained. The chicken one I add a can of diced tomatoes ( I like the ones with cilantro here. So it’s basically a chili with black beans and corn and tomatoes. ) Here is a simple tasty recipe to make it easier on you if you like measurements and all. Some day I promise my cooking posts will get better. https://celebrationsathomeblog.com/fiesta-chili-recipe/

Do you like chili? Do you like yours red, white, spicy, mild or sweet?

Don’t forget to enter my rafflecopter giveaway and come back daily to check out all the authors, tricks, treats and you may find a good book you may want to read ( I have found several) I am donating a personalized book bag to the grand prize since there are several print copies in that prize package and this gives you a place to put them, Or you can use it at the grocery store, Pool or beach or whatever you like. If you want to make sure you see each post and if you comment daily that is an extra chance each day. so follow this blog by email ( see the sidebar at top) There are lots of other gifts as well 22 chances in all to win a prize!

a Rafflecopter giveaway