3rd Place in the Office Chili Cook-off

In honor of March Madness, we had a chili cook off at work this week. I am a bystander in office events such as these. It's not that I am anti-social...no, I'm not. People really do like me...I just don't like to wake up early to prepare for things like a cook off. But today's competition is different. I pride myself on my chili. I try to make it on any occasion because I really do believe it tastes fabulous. So I couldn't stop myself when the email looking for contestants rang the bell in my Inbox.

K & I went to the grocery store and spent $33 of the $50 I was given (in advance) from work for supplies. I spent the 30 mins perfecting my chili recipe with hopes of getting the biggest prize of them all. I woke up this morning, packed everything up and off to work I drove. As I pulled into the parking lot at work, I thought to myself "how crazy, nothing split, nothing is burnt, nothing is wrong".

And then I walk into the break room where one person had already dropped off their chili in a CROCKPOT. AH! I had mine in an ordinary non-stick pot. How would I ever get this warm enough for the lunch time taste off. Something was bound to go wrong and this had to be it. But obstacle triumphed! I sped over to Steph's place (who is the only friend I have living out in the boonies where I work) and miraculously, she has a very adorable, red Crockpot. When I initially asked her if she had one, she gave me the sort of response that is interpreted as "Of course I have one, any red blooded American does." Well, I totally missed that day in home ec.

Back to the office and it's lunch time. Chili warmed up, sides already to go. Sri walks up to me and whispers, "which one is yours? I can only eat yours." I respond in a hushed tone with a huge smile "the red one, #4."

I hear people contemplating which ones they like best, #1 because blah blah blah, #5 ....on and on. I'm getting nervous but trying not to show, after all it's just a friendly team building exercise at work. The ballots are being placed in the voting box and then someone from marketing counts them - in front of everyone! I'm mortified. How many #4s will there be. I'm not sure....1, 2, 5, 10.

At last, the announcements and 3rd place goes to....Chili #4!! And the crowd goes wild! (Okay, so that didn't happen but I was really excited).

Who woulda thunk it, my 100% VEGGIE chili win 3rd place in a red-blooded, all-American office.

Quick & Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe

2 can Bush's Chili Magic

1 onion (diced)

1 can diced tomatoes

1 jalepeno pepper (diced)

1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Optional:

1 bag Morningstar Veggie Crumbles

1 pouch of Chili Seasoning

1) Brown the Veggie Crumbles

2) Sautee the onions in a little cooking spray for 1-2 minutes

3) Add jalepeno pepper and cook for 1-2 minutes

4) Add tomatoes and cook for 4-5 minutes

5) Add crumbles & seasoning. Stir.

6) Add chili and simmer for 5 minutes

7) Add cheese and stir until it melts completely

Serve!