Chili Recipe

Records discovered by Texas millionaire, Everrette DeGolyer, are said to indicate that the first American chili was created in the mid 1800s and was a staple of the cowboy diet. Of course, there is also the historic tale that chili was an invention coming from the Canary Islands during the early 1720s.

This flavorful concoction is still thought to be a dish brought to the US by Mexicans by many people. However, the chili made in America today will not be found on a traditional Mexican table unless that table is catering to tourists to the country.

There are probably more myths about chili than there are chili recipes. And chili connoisseurs are known to have their own "secret" recipe that makes their chili unique and superior.  Some historians have written that the first World's Chili Championship was located in Terlingua, Texas in 1967. However, newspaper clipping found by Ranger Bob Ritchey proved that this information was incorrect.

Mrs. F.G. Ventura received the title as the first World Champion Chili Cook in October of 1952 at the Texas State Fair. She held that title for 15 years. Almost any ingredient could be added to the contestant's chili pots except beans were not allowed.  But it was the 1967 chili cook-off in Terlingua, Texas that is the most famous even though there were only two men fighting for the title for best chili. The contest ended in a tie.

Like the two men from the original Terlingua cook-off, there are literally thousands of people who believe that they have the best chili recipe in the country. They go head to head and fight for the crown for the world's best chili. Most (if not all) chili cook-off recipes will not have beans and Texans can get downright offended if you add beans to their chili. Beans or no beans - chili is one of the most flavorful and inexpensive foods that has graced the American dinner table.

Tips on making award winning chili

The differences between authentic Mexican food and Tex-Mex food

The discovery of the bhut jolokia in India put taste buds to the test. It was named by the Guiness World Records as the world's hottest chile pepper measuring about one million on the Scoville heat unit test. The name translates to "ghost chile" which it is often referred to in the US.

Once holding the record of world's hottest chile pepper, the Red Savina measures about 575,000 on the Scoville heat unit test.

The Dorset Naga is often referred to as the world's hottest chile - no matter what Guiness says. The heat level of the Dorset Naga has reportedly ranged anywhere from about 800,000 to about one million on the Scoville Heat Units. It does go without saying - this is one hot chile!