A couple pretty decent chili mixes

Now, before you roast me; I've been making chili from scratch, everything but butchering the cow myself, for 25 years. This is different, this is about good and also convenient.

1) McIlhenny's, the people who make Tabasco Sauce, have a jar of sauce that you add meat and either water, beer, or tomato/V8 juice to. It makes a nice average dinner chili that the whole family can eat. Beans are optional, not in the jar. The mild is not hot at all, the hot is "smile" hot, but not burning. This cili is a little bit sweet, with a hint of the Cincinatti flavor (but not Cincy style,, not at all).

2) Bear Creek makes a package of dried fixings that has a sublimely exotic blend of herbs. You add meat and water and 8oz tomato paste. There are dessicated beans in this one, but not many. There is a hint of tarragon in it that I find captivating. It is not hot.

Both of these are very hearty; there's no sense of settling for less, and there are lots of garlic, onion, and pepper flavors. I added nothing to the mix at all, other than what was recommended on the label (in other words I followed directions). But the best was when I made a batch of each and mixed them together. It really did make an excellent bowl of red.

It goes against my chilihead grain to write this, but the honest part of me compels me to write it. This is edible chili from a mix, and if you mix the two together you get better than edible, you get GOOD chili, without the cleanup.


Tom

Nice report Mosca! Atleast I now have the information if ever needed, but I'm old fashioned... Everything but the kitchen sink when I'm making chili..

Chili is like sex......it's all good, it's just that some are better then others, and may I add the worst sex and the worst bowl of chili I ever had was wonderful ............ Frank C.

I'm making some now in the crockpot. We may lose power today so it will stay hot for a while. Eek.

The 3 things my sister sends from KC in periodic care packages are the KC Star food Sections, A variety of local BBQ sauces, and ... Williams Chili Seasonings,
http://www.williamsfoods.com/
which has something(I don't know what) that gives Chili a distinct and wonderful flavor. I've found out throgh detective work(reading shipping boxes at the store) that most Western Family mixes are made by Williams, but not the CHILI MIX! My guess is they keep that formula for themselves, but alas, it's not available in the far west, so I depend on my sister's good will. I trade her Krusteaz pastry mixes and wine from the NW.

I have always used Williams Chili Mix when using a mix. If just using chili powder, I always use Gebharts.

Zach's spices makes a good one too.

We use Carroll (sp?) Shelby's chili mix. Rumor has it, it's the same Carroll Shelby of Mustang fame. It's just the spices, so you provide your own meat of choice (and beans, if you must) and tomato sauce. The cayenne is packaged separately from the other spices so it can be adjusted to taste. (A great relief for this spice-wienie in a house of fire-eaters.) Instructions included for "quickie" as well as slow-cooked versions.

Of course, in my mind, chili is usually a side dish to be fixed to help satisfy my cornbread cravings.

quote:

Originally posted by Salustra

We use Carroll (sp?) Shelby's chili mix. Rumor has it, it's the same Carroll Shelby of Mustang fame. It's just the spices, so you provide your own meat of choice (and beans, if you must) and tomato sauce. The cayenne is packaged separately from the other spices so it can be adjusted to taste. (A great relief for this spice-wienie in a house of fire-eaters.) Instructions included for "quickie" as well as slow-cooked versions.

Of course, in my mind, chili is usually a side dish to be fixed to help satisfy my cornbread cravings.

I use the Carroll Shelby's as well and have had for years making mine a little spicer by adding some additional cayenne and crushed red pepper while simmering my meat of choice. I use a can of tomatoes as well and tomato juice as I let mine simmer for 3 - 4 hours, adding fresh chopped peppers during the last hour.

Wick Fowler's is my favorite. Meat of choice, extra cayenne. Hmmm Hmm

Hello All,
The best chili mix I've encountered is Adolph's Chili Seasoning Mix.
Fieldthistle