"Chili from Wendy's isn't my FAVORITE chili, but I eat it probably more often than I make my own. My chili is very good, but probably wouldn't measure up to a cook off, but then I'm not making it for a cook off. Just because we make something at home doesn't mean it isn't good. Also, I like Olive Garden foods, most of them and eating in a fancy restaurant isn't what I'm about. If someone gets their kicks from that, fine, but not everyone has the time, the money or even cares about that. I've eaten in some fancy restaurants where the fancy food isn't that great. I suppose it has to do with that "cultivated" taste. Most of us live in the real world where even if we go to a fancy restaurant, it is a now and then thing, not our life. I like good food, but a meal doesn't always have to be an event. Sometimes it is only to satisfy hunger."
Ill address this first.... I can't picture someone still claiming fast food as one of their favorites yet hanging out at a cooking site. You dont have to go to Olive Garden( lol ) to get good food. You can make italian dishes better than olive garden at home with ingredients that aren't expensive at all. This is a cooking website, use it, lol
For another, if you have to put BEANS in your chile to get enough flavor, you're doing something wrong. there is an extraordinary amount of flavor in fresh herbs, cumin, fresh and dried chilies, and meat to make a wonderful dish fit for anyone. Dumping a can beans in a true pot of chile is enough to make the baby jesus cry.
As for someone who said chili powders are worthless, ummmmm..... i beg to differ...i could send you some pecan smoked manzano chile powder or some pecan smoked paper lantern or red habanero powder and you would be asking me for seconds in no time at all. Powdered chile worthless? Maybe the stuff in the plastic container at a grocery store.
