Tips from the “Chili Tempter”
Ken describes his Original Chili Seasoning as a unique blend of spices that gives a real “down home” flavor without a hint of bitterness. It is a modestly-priced, family-oriented product featuring taste, economy, versatility, and ease of use.
Unsolicited comments from enthusiastic repeat purchasers continually make mention of the superior taste, praise for no salt, how it “goes so far,” and for the many ways the seasoning can be used. Some find it hard to believe that only one tablespoonful of seasoning can deliver such a deliciously mild flavor.
The very first note Ken ever received, shortly after just beginning to sell his chili blend, came from a physician’s wife who had no idea who Ken was. The note read, “it makes my chili taste like I always thought it should.” From then on, Ken had his slogan, “makes your chili taste like you always thought it should.”
Ken says, “I seldom use one full packet (1/2 oz.) to a pound of meat. However, I’ve had several tell me they like it that hot.( It makes me sweat.) I’ve even had a few tell me they use more. I tend to follow the recipe on the back of the package. The best thing is, though, you control the amount of heat by the amount of seasoning you use, and whatever the heat, the taste is always consistent (really good!).”
As Ken points out, “some chili powders, when you add more, make the chili bitter rather than hot. I really don’t think you can make bitter chili with my blend, though you can surely make it hot.”
A grocery check-out lady in the town where Ken used to live told him (not knowing it was he about whose product she was bragging), “until I used that KENS stuff there were 2 things I could never make good; chili and apple pie. Now there’s only apple pie.” Ken has sometimes wondered if she ever learned to make apple pie!
Now, of course, I’m interested in YOU using it, and telling me all the good things it’s done for you!
For several years, we’ve sold from a booth at our Kansas State Fair. Through the years, we’ve had several stop by and tell us they have won a chili cook-off using KENS blend. I wish we’d had the presence of mind to record when and where these took place. One woman came by our booth one year and said, “I entered a chili cook-off using your seasoning. I didn’t win, but I was the only one who took home an empty pot!”
Ken’s sister was at a back yard bar-b-queue and visited with a young man who had won 2 successive chili cook-offs in the same place. They wouldn’t let him enter the third year. When Ken’s sister mentioned he might try her brother’s seasoning, he asked what it was. When she told him it was KENS, he chuckled, and said that was what he used in winning! Ken has never entered a chili cook-off, but is always pleased to learn of others who have – especially when they have won.
Ken explains, “there is no salt in my blend. Even the small
amounts of onion and garlic are powders, not salts. Originally, I left salt out because everybody
has it at home, and I saw no need to “sell” it in my blend. Now, of course, it
turns out to be an important health factor. Of course, if anyone simply must
have salt, heck, they can use all they want. One lady wrote from