Quest for the Perfect Chili

It's just a silly chili cook-off contest at work....or IS it? 

THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.  

Yeah, they probably don't care either way.  I just always wanted to say that.

Anywho.  I'm done being silly (you don't believe me, do you?).  No, seriously.  Let's get serious about some chili here. *serious face*  People are serious about chili these days.  Seriously.  So I figure I should be serious too (ok, fine...I'll stop).  After all, it was one of the first things I ever learned to cook.  It's also one of the first recipes I ever added to my little homemade cook book - made from a used three-ring binder they were going to throw out at work (SNAG!).  So I got an email about a Chili Cook-off from the Employee Committee (said in a deep, important sounding voice) at work a couple weeks ago.  I thought, "Hmmm....should I enter?  Can they handle my insane chili-making skills?  Are they even aware of the type of commitment they're about to make?"  Kidding.  It was actually a bit more like, "Meh...sure I'll make some chili.  Whatevs."

Let's go back to that first-thing-I-ever-learned-to-cook thing.  I was ehh...17, I think.  Yeah pretty sure I was 17 because I recall my (now ex) boyfriend's mom wouldn't let me smoke in the house because I wasn't old enough.  I had to smoke on the back porch.  <insert eye roll>  She was a pretty good cook though.  Cooking for a husband and two growing teenage boys on her husbands income alone is cause for some frugal creativity I presume.  I just remember she'd make the best chili.  Stuff I never got at mom's growing up because everyone was so picky in our house (sorry Mom-it's not your fault).  I was picky too but I'd try it anyway - so as not to be rude - and end up liking it (it's a wonder what guilt will do).  It was different every time she'd make it.  She'd throw in whatever she could find in the pantry at the time and somehow she would make it work.  She taught me something as simple as a can of corn can stretch the batch to feed two more people.  I remember asking her for the recipe.  She gave me the basics, showed me how to do it and then said, "Add whatever else you like.  It's your chili."  So that's what I did.  And I've been experimenting with it since then.  As a side-note, I hear she's not doing too well with her health right now.  Send up a thought and a prayer if you get the chance. 

Really, my chili isn't anything special...to me at least.  It's not "white" or "green".  It's not fancy.  It's just mine.  I have learned to tone down the heat since I've had kids, though.  I once won "Hottest Chili" at a work chili cook-off.  I might have killed someone with that batch, but it was damn good.  Every once in a while I'll peruse the internets for tips.  There's TONS of forums and recipes (like I said, people are seriously serious about chili).  Always looking for that extra little kick I can add to my chili, or soup, or rub, or marinade...you get the point.  So, thanks to those three little words:  It's. Your. Chili.  They made me the cook I am today.

Hopefully I have an ecstatic "YEAH BUDDY!!  I WON!!  TAKE THAT B*TCHES!!" update for you all later.  Judging starts in an hour!  Wish me luck!!!