Interesting Chili Con Carne article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/may/12/cook-perfect-chilli-con-carne

None of the ones the author posted are what I do (I opt for mince, pinto beans - never kidney - blech! - and chopped tomatoes with lots of cumin and garlic).

As usual, the comments are interesting, too.

I'm gonna be honest, I can't think of a single homemade chili other than my own that isn't actively terrible. And I'm sure that probably people who like their personal homemade recipe think *mine* is terrible. It's a dish that I think benefits from experimentation to suit personal tastes, not recipes.

If you're like me, you make it a wee bit different every time - lol!  I know purists who say no tomatoes, and those who say no beans, and some who say you shouldn't use mince & on & on.  I agree with angelchrome - it's really a thing for personal tastes & experimentation.

I have used (gasp!) kidney beans before, but I prefer pinto beans (and yes you can get pinto beans in the US - never fear!).  I vary up the types of chilies I put in, sometimes I add chocolate, sometimes I add lime juice... 

I liked the comment that said we American cousins call tomato puree - 'tomato product' - ah ha ha ha ha ha!!!  That is something I have never heard it called in either country. 

I am a chili fanatic and even had my mom post over some tinned chipotle peppers, the kind you can get REALLY cheaply in the Mexican section of most shops.  As far as the "tomato product" I wouldn't dream of putting it in mine.  I like to use flour as my thickener because it doesn't add a lot of unnecessary taste like tomato PASTE could.  I agree that kidney beans are a no-no and would much rather use pinto beans except my CP doesn't like any kind of beans in things    My recipe is definitely different each time i make it, which isn't often because the last time my CP told me that he didn't really care for chili too much.  ARGH!

My recipe is definitely different each time i make it, which isn't often because the last time my CP told me that he didn't really care for chili too much.  ARGH!

More for you then!  You can source chipotles here from...

http://www.coolchile.co.uk/

http://www.mexgrocer.co.uk/

http://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/ (possibly?)

http://www.lupepintos.com/

There may be others...