"Next to music there is nothing that lifts the spirits and strengthens the soul more than a good bowl of chili." Harry James. Source: http://whatscookingamerica.net

When your day has been hard and your soul is longing for the comforts of home, what better to come home to but a delicious bowl of heartwarming chili. The hearty dish has been a favorite in this country for centuries, and has a vivid and rich history. Much has been written about the origins of chili, but regardless of its beginnings, the fact remains that people love the stuff and cant get enough of it.

For families looking to cut food expenses, adding chili to the weekly menu is a great idea. The ability to cheaply feed large families was one reason for chilis popularity in previous centuries, and still remains so to this day. Everyone has heard stories about how cowboys cooked kettles of chili over open flames on the range during cattle drives. They cooked what they had available, and what would keep well longest. Chili is always better the next day after all.

Hard working folks still love to sit down to a piping hot bowl of chili at the end of the day. The best way to have your chili ready as soon as you arrive home is to cook it in your slow cooker.

Here are a few tasty chili recipes to get you started:

Slow Cooked Chunky Chili

1 lb ground beef 1 lb bulk pork sausage 4 cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained 2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained 2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained 1 large onion, chopped 1 medium green pepper, chopped 1 envelope taco seasoning  tsp salt  tsp pepper Cook the meat in a skillet and drain. Place  it into a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients.  Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.   Freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months.
Southwestern Chicken Chili
5 large chicken breasts, chopped  2 cans kidney beans, drained  2 cans whole canned tomatoes 2 cans canned corn  1 yellow onion, chopped  5 tablespoons chili powder
 Put rinsed kidney beans on the bottom of  the slow cooker. Next add Corn. Place 1/2  the Chili Powder on top of the corn and beans.  Pile on the chicken slices. Pour in Tomatoes.  Cover with remaining chili powder. Cover and  cook on High for 8-10 hours. Add the onion 30  minutes before serving.