Today is National Chili Day! Chili con carne, chili verde, chicken chili, what ever your favorite, it’s all pretty yummy. Some interesting facts: Chili Verde omits the beef and tomatoes, opting for pork, tomatillos and green chili peppers instead. You won’t find beans in Texas style chili. Vegetarian chili–wait, that can’t be–anyway those recipes boost the number of bean types and throw in corn, celery and other veggies. Some chili cooks even recommend adding half a beer to the pot as it simmers.
Nobody knows chili’s true origin story. Some say emigrants from the Spanish Canary Islands created the first dish of chili con carne in San Antonio in 1731. Chili fanatics also like to argue about whether beans or meat accompanied the chili peppers in “real” chili.
More facts: chili is the state dish of Texas. The Gold Rush spread the popularity of Chili in the U. S.. There are 2,000 to 3,000 different varieties of chili peppers in the world. Chili too hot? To put out a chili pepper fire in your mouth, eat something fatty or greasy, like milk, curds or ice cream. All that spice comes from capsaicin, which is not soluble in water.
The big question is… are cinnamon rolls the ultimate side with chili? I say… absolutely!
