I actually did not have a lot of chili growing up.  My mom has a famous baked bean recipe that is like a family tradition and I suppose that is as close to chili as I got.  My fondness for this one-pot dish probably grew in college.  I spent a lot of time with band kids and my co-ed fraternity and we would often have get-togethers or potlucks on the weekend.  Chili was the easiest dish to make for a large crowd.  Plus it was generally inexpensive to create.  Continue reading →