The hearty stew is a classic casual party dish for good reason. For the cook, it's easy, do-ahead and cheap. For guests, it's appealing, fun and friendly.
There are lots of chili recipes. So why try mine? For one thing, it calls for common grocery store ingredients (no visits to ethnic markets and mail-order companies). Plus, this eyebrow-raising chili will prompt guests to ask for the recipe.
Here are five key steps to success: