Practice makes perfect, so rehearse your recipe several times before competition day.
Chili is a traditional American food originally developed by cowboys on long cattle drives. Today, countless chili recipes exist throughout the world, and many people have their own unique and often secret recipes. Because of its popularity, many cities and towns hold chili cook-offs throughout the warmer months. In order to successfully compete and win a chili cook-off, you must understand the rules of the competition and prepare your chili recipe.
Instructions
1. Familiarize yourself with the rules of the cook-off that you will enter. When you sign up for a cook-off, make sure that you get a copy of the official rules. Knowing the rules is essential in preparing your chili recipe and cooking technique. Depending on the specific cook-off, certain ingredients may be forbidden or required, you may or may not be able to use an assistant and you will have a certain time limit by which you must finish cooking.
2. Apply for any license or food handler's card that you need to participate in the chili cook-off. Different states have different requirements for food handling licenses and cards. If you need to apply for one, make sure you do so in time for the competition. If you are not sure whether you need a license or card, contact the cook-off's organizers.
3. Know the conditions where you will be cooking. Find out whether you will be cooking indoors or outdoors, if you need to provide you own cooking equipment and what type of heating source or electricity will be available to you during the cook-off.
4. Develop a unique recipe. You may already have a unique recipe, but make sure that you tailor it to the requirements of the location, time limit and cooking equipment that will be available on the cook-off day.
5. Practice your recipe. Try to cook in the same conditions and time limits that you will have on the cook-off day. If you have to bring your own electric burner to the competition and cook your chili outside, then go outside of your home and practice your recipe on that same electric burner. Also, use the same pots, knives, spoons, boards and other equipment that you plan on using during the day of the cook-off.
6. Prepare for mistakes and errors. Have contingency plans for accidents. If permitted, make sure to take extra food supplies in the event of spills. And have several bottles of water on hand if you need to correct overseasonings.
7. Ask friends and neighbors to taste . Because your cook-off chili will be judged by strangers, input from various people will help you make adjustments to your recipe if needed.
Tags: make sure, your chili, your recipe, , chili cook-off