Ok, I'm going to let you in on my chili recipe...

[Hi There, Am Pam]

Believe me, I rarely let people know and understand the ways of my chili. You can pretty much make your own variation, as I usually make it differently each time.

First, the general ingredients:

- Ground beef
- Tomatoes (generally crushed)
- Onions
- Peppers

- Any kind of hot dried peppers
- Olive oil
- Chili powder or any kind of meat seasoning

And the two key ingredients:
- Brown sugar
- Catalina dressing

Pretty much make it like you would any chili, but when cooking the onions & peppers, take the olive oil you'll grill it in & put the chopped hot pepper in & let it soak. This will make the vegetables have a bit of an after-kick.

Once you have all the ingredients cooked & simmering together, add a generous amount of brown sugar & Catalina dressing. When you think you've added enough, double it. Let it simmer for at least a couple of hours, ideally.

When you serve it, don't forget cheese. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, whatever you prefer. Corn chips also rock.

Anyone who tries this, report back. I guarantee you that it will out awesome.

[Pele]

what about beans?

[kendra]

what's the carb count on that? blech

[Daysleeper]

what about beans?

YEAH!!! Don't ya need kidney beans?

[Hi There, Am Pam]

I knew I was forgetting something! Such a basic part of chili. Yes, add beans as well.

To Kendra: Chili ain't about being Atkins approved. Chili is about giving you serious digestion problems.

[kendra]

True, when I was 9 I ate a huge bowl of chili without knowing that I was incubating a stomach virus at the time. You can guess what the bathroom smelled like the next morning. (Chili looks the same coming up, btw.)

[Hi There, Am Pam]

Kendra, you have just offically ruined any chance of someone trying my chili out.

[The Tourist]

True, when I was 9 I ate a huge bowl of chili without knowing that I was incubating a stomach virus at the time. You can guess what the bathroom smelled like the next morning. (Chili looks the same coming up, btw.)

I had the same thing in '99! My dad had made a huge batch of chili for my nan's wake. I think I ate some leftovers the day after the funeral/wake. Anyway the next day I was at school and felt very ill. I puked up a load of chili, and it did look pretty much the same as when I'd eaten it 15 hours previous. :O Then I had diarrhea. :) :(

[Henriette]

I have diarrhea now! It doesn't look like chili though :(

[i]

Would you feel better if it did?

[Pele]

BTW Hohn, I think your chili sounds really good - I would have to omit the Catalina though because I can't eat any salad dressings but caesar, straight up vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, any of the many asian-influenced dressings, and I've just recently introduced myself to ranch. But only the ranch made by the restaurant I work at, it's awesome :D I just can't eat anything with a base of mayo or ketchup.

[i]

I like ranch a lot. They don't have it in Australia.

[Hi There, Am Pam]

BTW Hohn, I think your chili sounds really good - I would have to omit the Catalina though because I can't eat any salad dressings but caesar, straight up vinaigrette, raspberry vinaigrette, any of the many asian-influenced dressings, and I've just recently introduced myself to ranch. But only the ranch made by the restaurant I work at, it's awesome :D I just can't eat anything with a base of mayo or ketchup.

Oh, but the Catalina is what gives it its awesomeness. It doesn't really act like a salad dressing, more like a marinade.

[kendra]

yeah i doubt it'd even end up tasting like the dressing much

[Peter]

I never eat Chili the day I make it. I always let it sit overnight in the refrigerator and start eating it the next day. it ALWAYS tastes better after a day in the fridge :D

[Pele]

yeah i doubt it'd even end up tasting like the dressing much

I know, at that point it would be purely psychological.