Classic Chili

Okay. Its been awhile (oops, eight months goes by in a flash... :/), so I thought I'd ease myself in with one of my most favorite recipes - something you've probably eaten if you've had dinner at my house more than once, or if you've been camping with me, or if we've watched the Superbowl together, or attended the same potluck ... you get the idea.

It all started on Superbowl Eve of 2010... No offence to football, but the Superbowl has always been all about the food for me. Buffalo wings, French onion dip, nachos, brownies and chili. Well, on the eve of Superbowl XLIV, without my dad (who makes chili so spicy you wish your face was numb), I was facing my first game day without game day food, and I was very determined not to allow that to happen. Sooo, I found a very promising chili recipe online, made it, loved it and then promptly lost it. That recipe was never to be found again. I spent the next 2 years trying to piece together what I could remember of the ingredients. I fiddled and tweaked and tinkered with it until finally I had some results that I thought were even better than the original. I've been making this recipe ever since. Probably too often if I'm being honest.

This chili is a straightforward, heat and serve operation (it totally qualifies as a weeknight dinner if you have an hour to let it do its thing on the stove), but it does not skimp in the flavor department. In addition to your typical chili ingredients like chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano, garlic, onion, etc., I add a couple slices of bacon. It lends a savory, smoky depth that otherwise couldn't be achieved with such a short cooking time.