What Do You Know About Chili

When I eat a good bowl of chili I think about the last words of western scout Kit Carson when he lay dying. It has been reported over the years that the last words he said was he wished he had the time for one more great big bowl of chili. And in case you don't know San Antonio Texas is said to have been the birth place of chili sometime in the 17th century. And chili is the official food of the state of Texas. Though most people in Texas would fight you if you tried to put beans in their chili. It has gotten to the point in Texas though that pintos are often served on the side for those who do want beans in their chili.

But elsewhere in the United States you'll find chili served with meat. People now make chili with just vegetables and on a recent trip to Florida I was treated to a bowl of crab chili that I will have to say was one of the most delicious bowls of chili that I have ever tasted. So don't knock it until you try it. There are all kinds of ways to make a delicious bowl of chili and there are all kinds of condiments served on the side with chili. And you will find people can almost declare war over how you should serve up that bowl of chili. The crab chili I had in Florida was served over rice and had black beans in it in case you're  wondering. While other people say that chili has to be served in a bowl by its self while in the chili crazy south of the United States chili is quite often served over big squares of cornbread. And recently I have found more and more people serving their chili over Mexican cornbread.

I like to serve my chili with jalapenos, diced onions, sour cream, guacamole, tortilla chips, squares of cornbread, and etc in bowls on the side. You will find that if you set up a mini condiment bar for your chili party that people will just love you for it. Make it as simple or as lavish as you like. And what ever you do include a selection of hot sauces for people to choose from. I also include shakers of red pepper flakes, ground cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, and ground sea salt. In case you don't know most of these condiments are not only delicious they are also good for you.

If you check out the above links you'll find some of the best recipes for chili that you will ever taste. And I wonder what is your favorite chili ever? Why not post a comment below and tell us all about that wonderful bowl of chili.

Chili Con Carne is Spanish for Chili with Meat and it originated in Texas where people would load their guns if you tried to add beans to their bowl of red which is incidentally what Texans call a bowl of chili. However in other parts of the United States you'll find not only beans but many other ingredients as well making their way into the pots of chili.

It was at the 1893 Expo in Chicago where other Americans were introduced to Chili Con Carne. The San Antonio Chili Stand sold bowls of chili con carne for people to taste and enjoy and it did not contain beans. And people coming back home to various parts of the United States helped to spread chili all around the United States and before long people in various parts of the United States were making their own style of chili and before you knew it beans found their way into chili.

Another very delicious chili now served around the United States is White Chili. Its made from great northern beans and chicken or turkey. You will also find it made with and with out the tomatoes. I myself like white chili but I have to have the tomatoes in mine. And in Cincinnati Ohio they make chili with beans but get this they serve it over spaghetti noodles of all things and when I tried chili over spaghetti noodles I really enjoyed it so you just never know do you.

I hope you enjoyed my Hub Page on Chili and I hope you will check out all the great chili recipes above. Feel free to post your comments below and tell us all about your favorite bowl of chili.