Fall signifies the beginning of cold weather and the start of chili season.

Burke High School held a cook-off event to raise money for Senior Senate.

One teacher recounts the spicy chili being quite memorable.

“The first couple bites were fine and then it just built and built until you’re feeling like a dragon” Abbey McNair said.

McNair was one of two winners. Her chili winning recipe won judges choice.

The recipe calls for:

1 bag of black beans soaked overnight

Rinse the next morning and turn in crockpot with a couple of teaspoons of

ground cumin and smoked paprika. Water halfway up the crockpot. Cook on high until soft.

Add:

1can of diced tomatoes or tomato sauce 16oz

Couple tablespoons of tomato paste

1/2 can adobo sauce with peppers ( sometimes only 1/3 depends of heat level of the peppers- freezes well for future batches)

1 browned yellow onion

1 med sweet potato diced

1-2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder

1-2 tbs garlic powder 1-2 tsps smoked paprika

Dashes of chili powder

Dashes of cinnamon

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1-2 tsps smoked paprika

Salt after everything is all cooked.

The Peoples Choice award went to Lisa Nichols.