It’s that time of year when hosts and hostesses turn their thought to themes for parties celebrating everything from their favorite college or professional football game and Super Bowl parties to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s parties, and celebrations of All of the other World Holidays during this holiday season.

We at I-ShopTheWorld.com are what you might call “party people,” so we have some party idea suggestions that will add variety and spice up your party: host a saucy chili cook-off.

Compile your guest list so you can create teams of 3-6 cooks. On your invitation let your guests know they’ll be participating in a chili cook-off and who’ll be on their team (have some extra fun and mix up couples). Ask them to bring any special ingredients they like to use in their chili, but let them know that every thing they could possibly will likely be provided and everyone will be starting with a basic batch of chili you will prepare in advance. Then they can spice it up. Be sure to arrange for enough pots and utensils for each team to have their own. Tell them to BYOA (bring your own apron).

Here’s how it works: The day before your party prepare a big batch of chili starter sauce using your choice of basic ingredients. Here’s one recipe. We suggest you multiply the ingredients to accommodate the number of teams you’ve organized with a hefty batch of starter sauce.

Basic chili sauce recipe to serve 6
•    1 pound lean ground beef or steak chopped into bite-size pieces
•    1/2 cup chopped onion
•    2 chopped garlic cloves
•    1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes or tomato puree
•    1/2 teaspoon chili powder
•    1 teaspoon salt (regular or garlic)
Preparation:
Spray the skillet with nonstick cooking spray or a light coating of an oil, such as olive oil. Brown the ground beef or chopped steak with the onion. Add the remaining ingredients stirring as you go. Note, you are not adding beans at this point; your guest cooks get to do that. Cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Refrigerate till party time.

On the day of the party, scoop up an equal amount of the basic chili sauce for each team, then invite them to complete the cook-off by adding any of the following ingredients you’ll have available in whatever quantities they prefer:

•    cooked, browned ground pork
•    pre-cooked sausage
•    cans of beans, including kidney, chili, black, cannelloni, and pinto
•    cans of vegetarian refried beans with chilies
•    cans of tomato sauce or whole tomatoes with and without chilies
•    cans of whole kernel corn
•    fresh tomatoes
•    fresh red, green, and yellow sweet peppers
•    fresh jalapeno peppers
•    fresh squash and zucchini
•    garlic powder
•    paprika
•    fresh natural black pepper, white pepper, dried chili spice, and India long pepper spice
•    an assortment of gourmet Tortuga sauces, such as Sweet Heat Carib, Mango & Ginger Stir Fry, Hot Caribbean Pepper, and Hell Fire Hot Pepper Sauce.
•    jars of Tortuga Gourmet Wildflower and Citrus Honey

Give each team a couple of hours to finish the cook-off, then conduct the taste contest and let your guests vote on the best. If you get a wow! Winner, consider having the team try it again for charity, presuming they have kept track of their ingredients and can repeat the taste (check out those opportunities at http://www.chilicookoff.com).

Consider serving other I-ShopTheWorld products like Thai coffee and tea. Treat your guest cooks to beverages made with Tortuga Rum Punch Mix. And, don’t forget the dessert; you’ll be so busy making the basic chili and organizing teams and ingredients, you may want to serve a variety tray of Tortuga Gourmet Fudge, rum balls, or rum cakes.

Go ahead, just do it.

Tell everyone to “pen” in the date, start arranging the details, and place your order online.

Let I-ShopTheWorld.com help you concoct the sauciest party your family and friends have ever had.

Please Reply and Post All of Your Comments HERE regarding …

- Your Saucy Party Ideas?

- Your Best Favorite Chili Recipes?

- Your Favorite / the Best Chili Ingredients?

- How Hot / “How Many Alarms” do You like Your Chili?

- Where do you stand on the “Bean” or “No Beans” “Great Chili Debate”?

- How about Meats in Your Chili?

— Do You prefer Your Chili with or without meat(s)?

— Which meat(s) do You like Best in Your Chili? / makes the Best Chili?

- Your other ideas do You have to Share for Great Parties?

Again, Please Reply and Post All of Your Comments HERE regarding all of this and anything other Great Party Ideas can think of for the Mutual Benefit of Everyone Around The World, ok?! :)