On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 21:06:14 GMT, "Carter, K8VT"
wrote:

wrote:


Well I hope you had 'real chile' ........ you know, the stuff made
with chunks of meat and no beans (as I recall from when I lived in
Michigan the 'chile' used kidney beans and was more akin to goulash).

A little before my time, but the story I heard was that they started
using beans during the Depression because they couldn't afford meat.

Possible. I can see a depression era diner or homemaker using beans
to stetch the meat - makes sense, as well as a musical after-dinner
session. Don't know if you've ever visited a chili cook-off, you
show up with beans and thats's it.........you're outta the
competition. However, the meat need not be beef - elk and venison are
also acceptable.