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Show 'irrmTtfrrfP contest tests taste Chili by Mary Galbraith Hilltop Times staff Base competition heats up at the annual Air Force Assowhen teams combine efforts to ciation Chili Cook-Of- f create culinary concoctions benefiting base charities. Proceeds support the Family Support Center (specifically programs that help families of deployed airmen) and Operation Smiley Face (benefiting military families with children who require medical treatment) . Annually, the AFA raises close to $10,000 to support base programs. Teams are required to make chili on site during the Sept. 30 competition at Centennial Park. Participants start cooking at 8 a.m. Base workers and their families are invited to sample chili between noon and 1 p.m. Prices are $3 per person for an endless bowl or $5 per family. Grant Hicinbothem, Air Force Association Northern Utah Chapter, said prices are family friendly so a husband, wife and kids can get a decent amount of good food for the price while helping support a good cause. HicinAbout 20 teams usually participate in the cook-ofbothem said they keep the number under two dozen, as be sampling more than 20 different types of chili can and tough on the judges taste buds. Teams are judged awarded prizes in several different categories including taste, theme, most original and crowd favorite. f. The themes are kind of fun, said Hicinbothem. Theres Using Dried Chiles vs, Chile Powder- - Flat Snake Chili Some recipes call for preparing dried chiles such as ancho or New Mexico varieties. You can substitute a chile powder. One tablespoon of powder per pound of meat is a good place to start. Add half of the total amount of powder initially, gradually adding more to taste. Chile powder is not the same as chili powder. The former is pure powdered chiles, while the latter is chile chili ), powder and a bunch of other spices (ie. instant 4--oz - be Preparing Dried Peppers Most peppers can and by removing the stems and seeds, Mexsoaking or cooking them in hot water. The New Do skin. ico Anaheim varieties have smooth, tough technique. Instead, cut off not try the the tops of the peppers to remove stems and seeds and to expose the interior. Steep them for an hour in hot For water. Then cut the peppers in half length-wisa with inner off the pulp each half, carefully scrape direction. flat knife, angled away from the scraping Then scrape the pulp off the knife into the blender. Meats and Stocks Common meats are beef round, chuck, and roasts. Other alternatives are sirloin, skirt, ' chuck tender and various cuts of pork. Emit, ostrich, venison, buffalo, moose and elk are interesting to use, but each call for special knowledge of cooking game meats. Many competitive chili cooks use chicken broth to improve a meat that cant stand on its own. Chips on the Side You can make great tortilla chips without oik Put four corn tortillas on a lightly for greased plate and microwave them on high power 5 minutes. soak-and-ble- nd e. ne . Janet helped judge I re-hydra- off-bas- last years Ingredients; 2 lbs, lean ground beef 1.5 lbs. German link sausage 4 dried chili anchos cans) 16 oz canned green chilies (four tomatoes 4 large 1 large white onion cloves garlic 2 tsp. ground comino (cumin seed) 2 tsp. paprika 1 tsp. Mexican oregano : chuck- usually a road kill theme or someone will have, a Totsch said ranges from sweet to very, very hot He added wagon theme. what a charity benefit should be. He added there are several different varieties of chili the event exemplifies You It fills all the bills. get to do something good for enough to suit everyones fancy. And many of the chili the community while getting a good meal for the fambooths also provide different types of bread. he said. Several teams have already signed up, including the ily at a very reasonable rate, cook-ofalso gives organizaf The general agreed the Ogden Air Logistics Center Command Section and a tions a chance to team build outside the office and show Clearfield High School ROTC unit. Cook-Off off unit pride by decorating booths with organization Brig. Gen. JimTotsch returns this year as a Chili veteran. As a member of the Command Section team, related embellishments. He said the AFA has been very supportive at Hill, and hell face off against the AFA team (and last years viccharity events helps participating in both on- - and e side competition. tor) during a and the Totsch doesnt include cooking among his hobbies and strengthen the bond between the community added he probably falls well below the novice level, but base. I think any time you live in a community you need to said other team members are more talented in the kitchen. Air Force He thinks the command will give the AFA team a run for remember youre a part of that population and base has the outreach in the a relationship plays big part their money (and bragging rights) this year. I we have think Totsch. Totsch said he and his wife, Janet, had a great time at with community members, said the chili, which an obligation to be good citizens and involved in local event. one-on-o- A Chili cooking tips Cut the stems from the anchos and remove seeds. Cover with boiling water and let sit for an hour. Blend in blender until smooth. Dice the sausage, onions and garlic, then saute over medium heat until onions are soft. If everyone in the house isnt already watching you do this, they will soon extrahalf-poun- d of sausage appear. The recipe callsfor an so you can give everybody a taste to get them out of the kitchen. Drain off the oodles of sausage grease (if you must!) and add the ground beef to the pot to brown. Dice tiie green chilies and tomatoes. Add the vegetables and spices to the pot. Add half the ancho sauce and water or beer to barely cover. Add more ancho sauce over time to sultyour taste. Simmer until you eantstand . . . , it activities. It shows that were interested here and view the relationship with the community as an important part of Hill AFB. role a Hicinbothem said corporate sponsors play key successful. This year the in making the Chili Cook-Of- f of AFA set up several types sponsorship, allowing smaller community businesses to support the event. Most people coming cant by anything from Boeing or Lockheed Martin. But smaller businesses can become known as base supporters through different levels of sponsorship, he said. Hicinbothem notes the Air Force is the real benefactor of the associations efforts. In addition to sponsoring members ensure legislative repevents like the cook-ofresentatives are aware of what the Air Force does and the needs of Air Force families. Sponsorships and team spots are still available. For details, call Hicinbothem at f, 564-517- 5. V 1 |