A WARD Winning Chili

This Saturday Kev and I took the kids to our wards Fall Festival for some burgers, chili cook off, games and trunk or treating. It was an amazing fall (summer, if you ask me) evening! It is so nice to finally be able to take advantage of the weather down here!

The prep for the night didn't seem to daunting. Throw some meat, onions, some spices and cans of stuff in a pot and let it cook, get Spencer a costume, and get Olivia ready as Belle. The first two went with out a hitch. Spence wanted to be a Storm Trooper, but when he saw the swords that came with the Ninja costume he was sold...again. I think that is why he wanted to be a Ninja two years ago. At least it was a different costume.

Olivia had big plans. She got her dress on hours to early and I had to convince her to take it off so it wouldn't get dirty. I thought I could get her hair done early to save me some time, and that is where the problem started. What made me think that a three year old could keep an updo intact for four hours before the party started. Well, I did it anyway. As I prepped her I had in my mind how I would do it. Belle has it parted in the middle, swooping down the sides with a bun on the top and curls in the back. As I began, Olivia interrupted me and told me that "Belle's hair has to have it come down on each side and then into a "Minnie ear" (that is what we call a pony that hasn't been pulled through all the way and is messy, get it?) on top. There are curls in the back and some curls by her ears." What the? She is three people. I felt some pressure. Exactly why I hate up does. I mean, what was going to be something that I thought would easily thrill her became me working for my toughest client! There were tears, and screams from her, and I breathed out my share of threats. The threats worked, she calmed, and I added multiple layers of aerosol hairspray. After playing and laying down to watch TV (which was strictly prohibited ) I had to only fix her hair twice before we left.

After arriving to the church, meeting Bree and E and Miss Tay as Dorothy, we sat down for some food. The kids were off running. I swear most of the night I was looking for them. I have to say that my most favorite thing was looking at all the boys in their unitard costumes, with wedgies, and all the time them not noticing and feeling more macho than ever because they were sure they were actually the character they were wearing. I also considered dressing Olivia up as Belle everyday because she actually acted like a little lady...when I could actually see her.

After the kids played games the big moment of the night, for the parents anyway, was the announcement of the winner of the chili cook off. We all held our breath in anticipation. OK, not really, but we actually were anxious to see if we had won since my mom had won with the same recipe at their Vegas ward, and our dad just won in their Utah ward. We couldn't fail the famous recipe! As they announced the 3rd place winner, the Elder's Quorum President yelled, "No, it's not! It's the Bailey's!" Then the rest of the judging committee yelled back that they were announcing the THIRD place winner. Eric, Bree, Kevin and I couldn't stop laughing. They went on to the second, and our name's weren't called. Then first place...."The Bailey's!" I took a bow and received our certificate. There it is. A chili recipe that has won in three states. You want to know what makes it so amazing? I will tell you. It's Weight Watchers. Two points for one cup! Here is the recipe for those who don't already have it:

1 medium onion, diced and sauted'

1 t. minced garlic

1 lb ground beef 97% fat free

salt and pepper

1 pkg powder Ranch dressing

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 can green chilies (I use the bigger size)

1 can fat free refried beans

1 can chili beans

1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can tomato sauce

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can corn OR I use 1 bag of frozen corn

If you wish to thin it down for taco soup and up to 1 cup water or fat free broth.

Oh yeah, then there was the trunk or treat, but who cares. I won.