Oh, It's SO Chili!

One of my daughters told me years ago that their father, in some conversation they were having with him, mentioned that despite our differences, he missed my chili. (Or was it my meatloaf?)  The conversation probably went something like, “The only thing I miss is her chili.”  Oh well. . . it was still a hidden, but huge compliment seeing that he is Mr. Creative Whiz-Chef in the kitchen, himself!  (It has also given me great satisfaction knowing that it is something he hasn't been able to duplicate--even with his extraordinary culinary skills!)  Anyway, chili lovers from near and far get a hankering for my chili once they’ve had some, and I don’t think anyone has ever not asked for the recipe, or has at least wanted to know my “secret.”  I gladly give them the recipe of "a dash of this" and "six splashes of that" but always admit that my actual secret is in the vintage crock-pot, itself.  That baby is something that only I have, and like a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, it is only getting better with time!  It is over 30 years old and has been mended, patched, and repaired more than Evil Knievel! 

The knob on the top has been glued back on, soldered back together, and now sports a clever DIY fix by way of a screw and little bolt thingie.

The control knob broke off sometime back in the 80s, so now I have to use a pair of pliers to change the temperature!

The darn thing isn't real purty, and it heats up slower that a 1954 Chevy in the dead of winter, but there is something in that crikey little crocker that for the past 30 years has been absolutely ideal for bringing a pot of chili to the brink of perfection.  (Probably lead.)

So. . .
What's your chili secret?