Truth is that I try to be a humble person.

Bragging is distasteful I know, but when it comes to my chili, it isn't bragging. This is the best chili you will ever eat.

At the market, buy a bag of California or New Mexico chili pods, 2 pounds of any pork that's on special. I like it lean and cheap. You'll also need white onions, garlic, chicken broth, about 4 tomatoes, a couple jalepenos (red if possible) and a good California red wine to enjoy while cooking.

At home, dump the chili pods into a pot of water and boil it all until the chilis are softened. Saute a medium white onion, and about 4-8 gloves of garlic until softened. Place the chilis, about a cup of the water in which they boiled, and the onion and garlic into the blender and puree the whole mess. Strain the resulting mixture through a screened strainer, and set it aside.

Place the tomatoes into boiling water for about 20-30 seconds. Remove and run under cold water. The tomato skin should come off fairly easily at this point and the tomato should be uncooked. Chop it up and set it aside.

Cut the pork into bite size chunks of your choice and cook over medium heat. Press another 4 cloves of garlic into the cooking pork and salt and pepper it. Cover and cook until cooked through.

Prepare a couple cups of chicken broth, and set aside.

If you are more organized than me, and remember to soak about 3/4 of a pound of pinto beans the night before, then do so. If not, here's a quicker method. Cover the beans with water and add a couple teaspoons of salt. Bring to a hard boil, and then remove from the heat, rinse in a colander with cool water. Place the beans back into a pot with enough water to cover them and cook for about an hour. Add water if need be.

Okay, it's time to create your brand new family secret recipe. In any order you choose, start throwing all the ingredients into a stew pot. I like to wait until serving time before I put the beans in, so they don't get too mushy.

Allow the chili w/o beans to simmer in a covered pot for about a half hour or more if you can, to blend all the flavors. If it needs thickening, mix some wheat flour or masa with water and shake it up real well, then pour that into the chili. If you put the flour in all by itself, you'll end up with flour lumps -- and no one likes flour lumps.

Salt to taste.

Place some cheese and raw onions on top of each bowl, and serve along side corn bread and beer. Bohemia or Negra Modelo go best. If you're up for a non-alcoholic evening, then serve along side an Arnold Palmer which is lemonade and iced tea mixed together in equal amounts.

Hamburger and kidney beans are fine foods, but keep them away from my chili!