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How To Make The Best Chili, According To Chili Cook-Off Winners (And A Judge)
HuffPo ^ | 10/14/2022 | Julie Kendrick

Posted on 11/10/2022 11:25:30 AM PST by simpson96

If you’re traveling to a cook-off, be aware of the flavor profiles that work best in that region.(snip)

“Florida likes a sweet chili, so I might use grape jelly,” she said. “Dallas likes spicy chili, but central Texas likes a milder chili. And in Arkansas, they like chili with ketchup.”

Jennifer Billock is a journalist and author who has competed in the Medinah, Illinois, Shriners’ annual chili cook-off. “My team won three years in a row, including a People’s Choice award,” she said. “I don’t have a recipe,” she said. “We called it Garden Chili and threw in a ton of veggies. Don’t tell chili purists, but it included canned beans, along with the liquid from the can,” she said. “The beans give the chili a really earthy flavor. There’s also chocolate in my chili, because I find it makes the finished product taste both more robust and smoother.”

And then there are some ingredients that champions just won’t consider. Tom Dozier has won more than 10 major chili cook-offs, (snip) “I don’t use oregano, because it imparts a spaghetti sauce flavor,” he said. “I also avoid cinnamon, which tends to overshadow all of the other spices, and I follow a strict ‘no beans’ policy, since I make Texas chili.”(snip)

Sam Merritt, a food blogger for Sugar Spun Run, reported that readers have used her recipe to win more than 100 chili cook-offs (and counting). “I’m especially thrilled when they send me photos of the trophies or ribbons they’ve won,” she said. For her, timing is critical. “I always add spices early, before the meat is fully browned,” she said. “This allows the beef to absorb a ton of flavor and helps the spices really bloom.”

(Excerpt) Read more at huffpost.com ...


TOPICS: Food
KEYWORDS: chili; chiliconcarne; cooking; food; frijoles
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To: Pollard
DG= Dollar General?
61 posted on 11/10/2022 12:01:54 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (The nation of france was named after a hedgehog... The hedgehog's name was Kevin... Don't ask)
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To: FamiliarFace

Forget it, Jake. It’s Oh-hi-Ya.


62 posted on 11/10/2022 12:01:59 PM PST by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Wolf brand chili used to be sold west of the Mississippi only about the last ten years or has it been on shelves in the east. I know I used to make it, it’s nothing but Van Camp’s chili with a little more spices I worked there till Con Agra bought them out...


63 posted on 11/10/2022 12:02:19 PM PST by 4bye4
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To: Sirius Lee
That's chili.

The inclusion of beans excludes it from being chili. Since your homepage doesn't state, I assume you're not from Texas, so you have no standing to define chili.
64 posted on 11/10/2022 12:03:36 PM PST by TexasGunLover
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To: DesertRhino

*** Only men can make chili***

You know those are fightin’ words, right? ;)


65 posted on 11/10/2022 12:05:02 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TP)
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To: TexasGunLover

Wolf is pure Texas, and they made with and without beans since way before Conagra.


66 posted on 11/10/2022 12:06:38 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up..)
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To: Sirius Lee

If you add corn, it becomes more like Brunswick stew, which I’m having tonight. I made up a big potful about a month ago, and froze what we didn’t eat. Tonight is the last of that really, really, really good batch.


67 posted on 11/10/2022 12:08:20 PM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TP)
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To: MayflowerMadam

Nasty!


68 posted on 11/10/2022 12:12:09 PM PST by samadams2000
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

Yes. The towns are 20-25 miles from me but they just put in a Dollar General 5 miles from me. We’re trying everything they’ve got. Prices aren’t great but it’s handy when you need something quick for tonight.


69 posted on 11/10/2022 12:12:50 PM PST by Pollard (Worm & GMO Free - some call us purebloods)
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To: simpson96; All

My secret? First, fry up bacon. Take out the strips and drain on a paper towel. Fry up your meat in the bacon fat, then drain that.

Whatever liquids are called for. I use beer.

Winning Chili every time.

And no elbow macaroni! Yeesh! That’s not Chili, it’s Goulash!


70 posted on 11/10/2022 12:15:10 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: Sirius Lee

Also useless if it has more veggies than beans and onions


71 posted on 11/10/2022 12:17:04 PM PST by bigbob (z)
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To: simpson96

Our chili has leftover grilled steak, lots of bell peppers, onions and corn, black beans, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, a mild chili seasoning packet, and a couple tablespoons of barbecue sauce. That fed the kids a healthy meal almost once a week for years.


72 posted on 11/10/2022 12:19:05 PM PST by married21 (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
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To: gdzla

Judge Number Three is in the wrong line of work...


73 posted on 11/10/2022 12:20:44 PM PST by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, if you can keep it.")
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To: simpson96

I use the Two-Alarm chili kit plus a gouple lbs of ground beef, a can of hot Rotel diced tomatoes, a jar of hot Pace salsa, a half dozen jalapenos, and 2 cans of dark red kidney beans (7th generation Texan here). Good stuff. Makes me fart like a plow mule.


74 posted on 11/10/2022 12:22:48 PM PST by gop4lyf (Gay marriage is neither. Democrats are the party of sore losers and pedophiles.)
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To: TexasGunLover
The inclusion of beans excludes it from being chili.

It's cute when you pout like that.

75 posted on 11/10/2022 12:29:07 PM PST by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: MayflowerMadam
They ate stewed tomatoes on top of mashed potatoes. bleeech!

My favorite baked potato topper is Sadie's Roasted Green Chile Salsa

76 posted on 11/10/2022 12:33:17 PM PST by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Sirius Lee

I call that chili bean stew, which is great to eat.


77 posted on 11/10/2022 12:33:32 PM PST by MCF (If my home can't be my Castle, then it will be my Alamo)
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To: MCF
I call that chili bean stew, which is great to eat.

I call bean-less chili, hamburger. Which is possible to enjoy.

78 posted on 11/10/2022 12:39:04 PM PST by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
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To: Sirius Lee

Gotta have beans, onions and garlic, but the real secret is 8 or so oz. of hoppy beer. An IPA works nicely. I also like a touch of cinnamon.


79 posted on 11/10/2022 12:48:09 PM PST by redangus
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To: DesertRhino

Wolf brand chili used to have real meat in it, you could even get a little gristle.

Today it is pretty generic.


80 posted on 11/10/2022 12:52:29 PM PST by ansel12 (NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.)
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