1968 -Woody DeSilva's Champion Chili
byWoody DeSilva
They had so much fun at the first one, it was decided to have another! (Besides, Shelby and Witts hadn't sold those rocks they called the Terlingua ranch) H. Allen was ill due to what he called an allergy flare-up (some said he'd eaten some of his own chili). Woodruff "Wino Woody" DeSilva, former manager of Los Angeles International Airport, took his place and fired up his pot against Wick Fowler in the second World's Championship. Scott Carpenter (astronaut) served as head judge. Someone had stuffed the ballot box for H. Allen and Carpenter called for a re-vote. The ballots were cast, and before the box was opened, a masked bandit brandishing a rifle, grabbed the ballot box and threw it down a mine shaft. Dave Witts (still the mayor of Terlingua) declared nolo contendere until the following year.
Ingredients
5 medium onions, choppedsmall amount cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste
4 lbs chuck beef, course chili grind or chopped into thumbnail-size pieced
5 cloves garlic, minced
4 TSB oregano
2 TSP woodruff (an herb)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 TSB paprika
scant teaspoon to full teaspoon chipenos (also known as chilipiquines), crushed (available at stores stocking Mexican groceries)
4 dashes Tabasco sauce
3 10-ounce cans tomato paste
1 6-ounce cam tomato paste water
4 TSB flour masa flour (available at stores stocking Mexican groceries)
Instructions
In a skillet, brown onion in oil, seasoning with salt and pepper.Place in chili pot.
Brown beef in skillet, adding more oil if necessary.
Add garlic and 1 TSB of the oregano.
Add this mixture to the chili pot.
In a paper sack, shake together the woodruff, cayenne pepper, paprika, New Mexico chili powder, cumin, the remaining 3 TSB oregano and the chipeno.
Add the blended spices to the chili pot.
Brown beef in chili pot with the Tabasco sauce, tomato sauce and tomato paste.
Add enough water to cover the meat and simmer at least 2 hours.
Cool the chili; refrigerate it overnight.
Skim off the excess grease.
Reheat the chili to the boiling point and stir in a paste made of the flour and a little water to thicken the mixture.
Stir constantly to prevent sticking and scorching, adding water as necessary for the desired texture.