It is chili

Many thanks to those of you who made suggestions and even provided recipes.  I am taking some from each of what you sent and making an amalgamated chili that should be good.  If I get a placement, that will be cool and totally unexpected. One of the things that gave me pause was adding a can of beer to the chili.  But alcohol evaporates in the cooking process, so I don't think that is an issue. 

But living with an alcoholic will make one a bit paranoid about beer and wine in cooking.  I remember early on in recovery, we were both having lunch at a nice restaurant.  We wanted to share a dessert so I asked the server what the desserts were.  She rattled off a bunch.  C. thought that Bananas Foster would be good.  So I asked what was in it! When the server said that it had rum and banana liquor in it, I immediately said, "Oh no, we don't want that." 

There it was--out of my mouth in an instant.  I was fearful about the alcoholic having anything to do with alcohol, or even thinking about alcohol.  Yes, I was new to recovery, but thinking back on that moment of insanity, I realize how far I have now come.  I don't need to protect anyone from themselves.  That isn't up to me.  What a relief!  So I am going to put a can of beer in the chili and trust that no one at the cookoff is going to go off the deep end and start guzzling the entire pot. 

Yesterday, we did lose power for a while.  It wasn't a big deal as we nearly always lose power at least a few times a year out here in the country.  The fire was warm and the nap that I took on the couch was delicious.  Today I am going to go down to the boat and check on things there.  It is still in the 30's here but at least there is no rain.  And later this evening, I am going to a meeting.  Another day to make of it what I can.