Chili is a stew-like soup made entirely with meat and chilies or chili powder (or both); and according to what section of the United States that you live in, it can also include beans. Chili “con carne” means it’s made “with meat.”

From the time the first person on earth mixed some chili peppers with meat and cooked them, the great chili debate was on; it’s more of war, in fact. The desire to brew up the best bowl of chili continues.

As part of this battle, the recent Help Us Help Others Super Bowl Chili Cook-Off, first of its kind, was held at the Piankatank Ruritan Club at Hudgins. The contest was sponsored by the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad. Six local organizations were there to prove they could make the very best chili, knowing they didn’t have to use just standard ingredients. There was turkey chili, vegetarian chili, hot chili and mild chili. Most of the chilies included beans but, by the way, in Texas you could be exiled by adding b...