Burnin' Love Chili and Chili Cook-Off - Opera Singer in the Kitchen

Happy 1-11-11! I like being able to be living during times with excellent dates like this. Know of anyone getting married?

Well, we were out this weekend and half of last week rehearsing with the Holland Chorale and learning new music for our next concert. Even though we have some people think it has been a long time since our last concert, I cannot believe we are looking at new music and that we will be performing next month! We learned that we have to have 6 pieces memorized out of the 12 pieces Ryan gave all of us. You could hear the gasps out of this group. MEMORIZE??? Seriously people. I think it is hard for a group that is becoming more and more professional to think that they can even achieve such a goal.

IF you did not know this, our choir is performing at Carnegie Hall in March 2011. We will be singing Haydn’s Mass in Time of War with 2 other choirs and then we will have our own solo performance. Check out the date and if you live in New York, come out and watch our performance. Scroll to the very bottom of MidAmerica’s page for details.

One of the breaks we got this past weekend while we rehearsed was to have a chili cook-off between the choir members. Of the 70 members, only 12 brought chili. I actually had not been planning to make chili but was asked last minute to bring a vegetarian / vegan variation, so I did.

My chili was the only vegan or meat-less chili there so I was glad I had something to eat. Some were made with chicken and others with beef. The night before, I asked Ryan to help me pick out a name for my chili. I had researched all about chili and the best chili powder to use. I went with ancho chili pepper powder, which is actually dried poblano peppers and gives chili a smoky flavor with a mild to medium spice.

Ryan helped me pick out names but one stuck out in particular. He did not think I was going to have to be required to my chili, but I did. That morning, there were tags waiting for the contestants and I immediately wrote down the name that Ryan had suggested, Burnin’ Love Chili. Yes, so the title implicates this chili being very spicy but it was a dark red with medium spice. For Michigan, this WOULD be hot. Little did I know that Elvis’ birthday was on the Chili Cook-off day. 🙂

I was worried that perhaps it would be too hot, but everyone tasted my chili and complimented me on the flavors. They wondered what the meat substitute was and the actualy ingredients. I was SUPER happy that people were genuinely asking me how I could make chili vegan.

The ballots were cast and there was tie! I tied with a non-vegan chili and funny enough, I got a Chili’s giftcard as a prize. I thought that was cute.

I would like to say that I would love to share this chili recipe with you but I am preparing my e-cookbook!

I am trying to get this together as quick enough for everyone to enjoy. I have a wonderful outline and great recipes to share SO………..

If you want to make this Burnin’ Love Chili tonight, then you can pre-order my e-book and get this recipe immediately emailed to you!

Pre-Order E-book and/ or Chili Recipe

If you have liked all the recipes I have posted as of yet, I know you will be excited with the recipes I will include in my e-book. Here is the outline: