Today is a holiday made for me because today is February 22 National Chili Day #nationalchiliday. I don’t know about you but I love Chili and wouldn’t mind eating it everyday. Doesn’t matter if its Homemade Chili, Store Bought or at a restaurant as long as its Chili. How about you? The only questions to ask is Beans or No, Beans and it’s no, Beans for me and what toppings if any do you want with your Chili.
Depending on what mood I’m in I like to have a bowl with Chili, Cheese, Frito’s and sometimes a cooked Wienie cut up inside my bowl of Chili. Other times I might just want a bowl of Chili with a glass of Milk. Or Rice and Chili like my dad used to fix when I was a child. Doesn’t matter as long as it’s Chili that isn’t to hot ie spicy.
National Chili Day on the fourth Thursday honors one of America’s favorite Winter dishes–Chili. Chili is also known as Chili Con Carne (Chili with Meat). Now, I have a question for would you like to have dinner with me this evening and we can have a Chili Bar with all kinds of Chili and Toppings.
Charlie has been asking to learn Spanish, and today I have something to share with him because Chili refers to “Chili Pepper” and Carne means “Meat”. Chili is prepared using Tomatoes, Beans, Chili Peppers, Meat, Garlic, Onions, and Cumin. However, cooks may offer up variations to the basic Chili recipe. With so many varieties, Chili cook-off competitions love to feature Chili as a favored entry.
National Chili Day is a moment to celebrate the dish that brings people together, and can tear them apart. Chili is the ultimate people-pleaser, but Chili is also the ultimate cook-off dish. Family recipes are guarded like crown jewels, and secret ingredients are never spoken of above a whisper. And the debates about what makes true Chili is Beans or no Beans? These are all part of what makes Chili such an experience. When Chili is being served with chopped Onions for those who like them or shredded Cheese on top most people are ready to eat.
THE MOST POPULAR CHILI ACCOMPANIMENTS #1: Cheese (31%) #2: Crackers (15%) #3: Cornbread (15%) #4: Sour cream (12%) #5: Tortilla chips (9%) #6: Diced onions (5%) #7: Hot sauce (4%) #8: Avocado (3%) #9: Salsa (3%) #10: Black olives (1%) #11: Cilantro (1%)
THE MOST POPULAR WAYS TO EAT CHILI #1: In a bowl (52%) #2: On a hot dog (12%) #3: In a Frito chili pie (9%) #4: On top of fries (8%) #5: Over rice (6%) #6: On a baked potato (4%) #7: On garlic bread (3%) #8: Over spaghetti (2%) #9: With mac & cheese (2%) #10: On a sloppy joe (2%)
American frontier settlers used a “Chili” recipe of dried Beef, Suet, dried Chili Peppers, and Salt. All this was pounded together and formed into bricks and dried. Then the Settlers could boil the bricks in pots on the trails.
At the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, the San Antonio Chili Stand helped people from all over the United States appreciate the taste of Chili. Because San Antonio was a significant tourist destination, it helped Texas-style Chili Con Carne spread throughout the South and West. In 1977, House Concurrent Resolution Number 18 of the 65th Texas Legislature designated Chili Con Carne as the official dish of the U.S. State of Texas.
Before World War II, hundreds of small, family-run Chili Parlors or Chili joints) popped up throughout the State of Texas as well as other places in the United States. Each new Chili parlor usually claimed some kind of secret recipe.
Rich Kelly of Hard Times Cafe in Arlington, VA founded National Chili Day which has been celebrated with cook-offs, pot lucks, feeds and bottomless bowls since at least 2006.
Chili is such a versatile dish it can be made with very little to no spicy heat.
Chili cook-off is a competition when competitors bring their finished dish and judges taste each entry and vote for a winner. These events are used as Fundraisers.
NATIONAL CHILI DAY ACTIVITIES
- Cook up your favorite Chili.
- Invite everyone over and have a Chili cook off.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL CHILI DAY
- Some soups are barely an appetizer, but Chili is a meal unto itself.
- Chili is the ultimate comfort food.
Chili Recipe:
Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 30 mins
Servings: 6
Homemade Chili Ingredients
- Beef: The recipe starts with a pound of ground beef. You can use ground turkey if you prefer.
- Onion: Cooking a chopped onion with the ground meat adds tons of flavor.
- Canned goods: You’ll need a can of tomato sauce, a can of stewed tomatoes, and some people like to us a can of kidney beans.
- Spices: This homemade chili is spiced with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Directions
- Cook the beef and the onion.
- Add the remaining ingredients, then bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
