I’m over winter, completely done with cold weather, and hope not to see ice on my driveway again. I’ve worn more heavy sweaters in the last two months than I have in the previous ten years. With sleet and possible snow in the forecast, it seemed like a good day for chili.
Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm Chili Kit has been the foundation of my chili-making for years, but I didn’t know the historical significance of the recipe and its creator until very recently. Homer Thomas Wilson (Wick) Fowler was born in East Texas, close to the town Karen and I call home. After joining the Dallas Morning News in 1943, he became the first Texas reporter to go overseas in World War II. He followed General Patton into Germany, and was one of the first journalists to enter Hiroshima after it was bombed. Wick was known for his friendly, outgoing personality, and was in demand as a speaker after the war. While continuing his news career, he started his own chili company and was one of the first competitors at the famed Terlingua chili cook-off. He resumed the role of news correspondent during the Vietnam war, and with several cases of his chili mix on hand, established the Da Nang Branch of the Chili Appreciation Society International. He accompanied H. Ross Perot to Vietnam in 1970 to seek the release of American prisoners of war. Wick traveled the world recording history, but he is better known for his role in the culinary history of Texas.
The best thing about Wick’s kit is that there are seven individual seasoning packets, so it is easy to adjust the recipe to individual tastes. I’ve tinkered with the standard recipe and here is the version that is a winner at our house:
Chili
- Brown 2 pounds of chili meat or lean ground beef and drain fat
- Add 1 – 8 ounce can of tomato sauce and 2 cans of water
- Add 1 – 15 ounce can of diced tomatoes, undrained
- Add the salt, paprika, cumin/oregano, onion/garlic, and ground chili peppers seasoning packets
- Add as much or as little of the red pepper seasoning packet as you like (I normally use 1/4 to 1/2 of the packet)
- Add 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
- I do not use the masa seasoning packet
Although the recipe on the box recommends simmering the mixture for about 30 minutes, the flavors are more developed if slowly simmered for about 90 minutes. Alternatively, the chili mixture can be transferred into a slow cooker, and simmered on low heat for 4 hours.
Honestly, we would have enjoyed an 80° sunny day, but our warm and spicy chili with Fritos® and freshly shredded cheese made today’s cold and dreary weather a little more bearable.
Where to buy Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm Chili Kit
(Note: “Find a store” links to a list of retailers on the Company’s website, but stores may not carry all of the Company’s products. Please check with your local store to be sure they have this specific product in stock. If not, ask them to carry it!)
Foods We Love 
How much mesa do you use to make it a little bit thick ?
Danny, Thanks for stopping by our site! I never use the masa because we prefer our chili not quick as thick, but I would suggest using about a fourth of the masa package to start. Let the chili cook for about 15 minutes, then see if you need to add more to achieve your desired consistency. Hope that helps!
I prefer to use tomato paste as my thickener instead of the masa as it doesnt change the flavor near as much. I usually use a 6oz can of tomato paste but once can easily start with less until the desired consistency is achieved.
Glad I found a mention of a slow cooker. Not something I could set up and leave all day I guess, but since we are keeping ourselves safe and staying inside as much as possible, I have all day so can wait until 4 or 5 hours before we’d be ready to eat. As for the masa flour, I sort of like the way it seems to tame down the acid in the tomato product. Since I have all the ingredients on hand most of the time, I just mirror the spices that would be in the mix and go from there. Add a little more of this or a little less of that, etc. If you weren’t a fan of masa flour, using the tomato paste for thickener is a very good idea!!
Off to gather up what I need to make us a nice pot of Chili..cool and rainy here today so it’ll be good!!