re: Any Unique Ingredients You Use When Cooking Chili?

I put half a Hershey bar in mine - maybe 2-4 ounces, depending on the pot size.

You didn't mention oregano, which I also use. I can't remember what I put in the one that follows - see link, but it was a good plain-jane standard chili.

Chili photos

I like crushed saltine crackers or rice with mine, but that's just me. You probably like yours hotter than I make mine, too but that's just personal preference. I have sampled competition chili that is like chunky fire it was so hot.

Some folks use paprika. I don't. I have seen coffee put in, but never by me. I usually drink the beer instead of adding it to the chili. I only purchase so much beer each month and it seems a shame to put it into chili.

If you want special chilies in your chili, that is OK. The kind of chilies you use will definitely make it your special chili. The competition cookers all have their special blend and they usually grind it themselves from whole dried chilies. They will quickly tell you that the stuff in a jar is a waste of your time. I guess I waste my time, because buying dried chilies and grinding them is more than I want to do - even for company. If I competition cooked I guess I'd make my own chili powder. Maybe using some smoked chilies and a little more heat than I do if it is for me.