From Jim Ezell:

I would like to announce a new sponsor.  Casa Fiesta Mexican Foods, a division of Bruce Foods has joined CASI as a new sponsor.  They will be the sponsor for the Bean cookoff at Terlingua in 2010.  We welcome them aboard.  Look for more information from them in the upcoming weeks!

From Donna Conrad:
Hope Everyone Had a Merry Christmas!

I will be in Kingsland next week end for the CCO. If anyone needs any H-E-B meat please give me a call NO LATER THE MONDAY 12/28/09. I will be happy to bring it to you.

Also as most of you know Dianne & I will be hosting the 2010 Great Peppers Meeting in Salado TX.. We will be selling Raffle tickets after the 1st of the year to win $1000.00 or a hand made quilt. Please contact me or Dianne if you would like to purchase some tickets. The cost is $5.00 for one or 5 for $20.00.

Donna's email dangergail@aol.com cell # 254-855-4733

Dianne's email winksintexas@aol.com cell # 254-855-2767

From Cynthia Gill:
The link below has all kinds of San Miguel information, like hotels and restaurants and how to travel to San Miguel for the International Chili Cookoff on January 30. Thought it might be helpful to those who are considering the trip.

Hope you are continuing to enjoy the holidays. See you south of the border!
http://sanmiguelinformation.blogspot.com/

From Vickie Childress:
One last reminder:  I just want to remind anyone interested in coming to the Tri-State Open Chili Championship.

The deadline for a chance to get in to the drawing for a free room is your registration must be post marked December 28th.

Thank you all and hope you have a safe & Happy New Year

Note:  Some people were having a problem seeing the You tube presentation  of Margaret Nadeau.  If you will click on the below address, it will take you to this presentation.  To get to Margaret's video, try this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZU5CqVGjs 

From Darin Jester:

One last reminder.  For those of you who are looking for something to do, Come ring in the New Year with you chili family and friends. The Hoosier Great Pepper's New Years Eve CCO, is looking for cooks, judges, and family and friends to ring in the New Year with. We are up to 36 cooks from 8 different states so far. If ya wanna come out and have a safe evening, RSVP to Tonya - crazyladychili@sbcglobal.net or me - flashoverchili@sbcglobal.net. Country Inn and Suites - 821-1100 has extended the block of rooms till 12/24. See the flyer for info here on the Indiana Pepper Pod FB page. Be safe, and have a joyfull hoidays. 

Notes:  Here's hoping that everybody had a wonderful Christmas Weekend.  Please mark your calendars for the weekend of January 16 and 17.  This will be the date of the CASI Winter Board Meeting.  It will be held at the Irving Elks in Irving, TX.  Saturday, January 16, will be the Workshop.  Everybody is invited to be a part of this session.  If you have information or ideas you would like for the board to address, this is your chance to introduce them.

On Sunday, January 17, we will have the Official Winter Board Meeting.  Everybody is invited to attend this session.  It will be our formal session.  It will be finished by noon. 

If you have information that you would like to share with the board or have topics that you would like to have addressed at either the Board Meeting or the Workshop, please send them to me as soon as possible.  I will be publishing a Tentative Agenda late next week for these meetings.

One more reminder:  Please send your CCO results to our new TallyMaster Jenny Windsor. Her address is


Jenny Windsor
210 Kennedy Drive
Severne Park, MD 21146

To get to Margaret's video, try this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZU5CqVGjs

From Steve Nadeau:
Margaret was invited to appear on San Antonio's morning talk show "Great Day SA" on Monday. It was a fun segment and I think Margaret did an outstanding job! I have posted the video on youtube if you would like to see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bZU5CqVGjs -Mr. Margaret

Cliff and I want to wish each of you a Merry Christmas.  We hope that each of you enjoy this weekend.  If you are traveling, please be safe.  May there be lots of presents under your tree and may you have a great Christmas meal and share a wonderful Christmas Day with someone you love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

It is Wednesday and this week I have no CCOs to announce.

I want to bring your attention to the San Miguel CCO on Jan 30.  It is an International CCO and it will qualify the first 3 places.  See Information below.

Jan 30, 2010-002 - San Miguel Allende GU CASI. Guanajuato Mexico International Championship. First 3 winners qualify for TICC. San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato Mexico at the Real de Minas Hotel grounds. Benefits Centro de Crecimiento providing Rehabilitation and Education for disabled children. A International Championship which will qualify the 1st, 2nd, 3rd winners for TICC.  San Miguel de Allende is a picturesque Spanish Colonial City with Cobble Stone streets and breathe taking Mountain Vistas and is known as the land of Eternal Spring. There has been a CCO off at this location for 3 years. This year it will be a CASI sanctioned International Championship. Chili entry fee will be $22.00 or 300 pesos. Chili Grind only. There is a web site http://www.smachilicookoff.com/  with more information. Contact Cynthia Gill at 832 287 1912.

Just a reminder that you only have 2 shopping days until Christmas counting today!  Have a Great shopping day!  And if you are traveling today, Be safe.

From Dianne Stimson:
Donna & I would like to THANK EVERYONE who came out to the 1st Santa Paws Chili cook off on Friday night the people from the Animal Birth Control Clinic did come out watched us cook and were VERY IMPRESSED ! They gave out great goody bags and trophies....Little doggie bone shaped tags like for your pet but bigger how cool. Saturday Toys for Tots had a good turn out. and Sunday was Tyson Foods and this year Jim Shilling and Heath where there from Tyson both were very impressed as well as most of you know they are responsible for the wings being donated for TICC as well as NUMEROUS other cook offs .....the weather was cold and windy...but we endured as we always do and had a wonderful time at the Hogcreek Ice house... if your ever just passing by stop in and try their food or have a cold one say "Hi" to Richard tell him your a CASI cook and thank him for letting us use his place he is a great guy. We are planning on holding more cook offs there in the future. I want to thank my head judge John Caffey. Tally crew, Billy Doss, James Bauer, Steve Ashman, David Lefler, Elke Jensen, Jason Kaehler, John Caffey, Donna Conrad and whoever else who helped. I know I am missing some and I apologize. My monitors, Francis & Johnnie Sullivan, John Caffey, Roger Foltz, Jim Ezell, Randy Duke, Table runners, Jennifer Collier, Pat Pilchick, Donna Conrad.....and of course all of the cooks who came out with out you we could not have had a successful cook off.........Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!


SANTA PAWS
FRIDAY 12-18-09
18 chilis judged


Chili


1. Traci Bond - Kerrville,TX
2. Kay Lefler - Bardwell, TX
3. Billy Doss - Georgetown, TX (Q)
4. Dianne Stimson - Crawford,TX (Q)
5. Sue Caffey - Rockdale,TX
6. Jennifer Collier - Temple,TX
7. David Lefler - Bardwell,TX
8. John Caffey - Rockdale,TX
9. David P. Lazarus - Killeen,TX
10. Stephanie Daugherty - Leander,TX




SHOW
1. Winks Surprise-Dianne Stimson, Crawford,TX
2. Tall Girl Frog-Sue Caffey, Rockdale,TX


TOYS FOR TOTS
SATURDAY 12-19-09
34 chilis judged


Chili


1. Johnnie Sullivan - Ennis,TX
2. Kevin Daugherty - Leander,TX
3. Jessie Waguespack - Austin,TX
4. Kay Lefler - Bardwell,TX
5. John Caffey - Rockdale,TX
6. Sue Caffey - Rockdale,TX
7. Randy Duke - Valley Mills,TX
8. Neal Doss - Georgetown,TX
9. David Lefler - Bardwell,TX
10. Traci Bond - Kerrville,TX


SHOW


1. Udderly Good Cow Killer Chili - Kay Lefler (Q), Bardwell,TX
2. Tall Girl Frog - Sue Caffey, Rockdale,TX
3. BB'S Chili - Jessie Waguespack, Austin,TX


TYSON FOODS FAVORITE CHARITY
SUNDAY 12-20-09


Chili


1. John Caffey- Rockdale,TX
2. Sue Caffey- Rockdale,TX
3. Steve Ashman- Bastrop,TX
4. Randy Duke - Valley Mills,TX
5. Angie Duke - Valley Mills,TX
6. David Lazarus - Killeen,TX
7. Stephanie Daugherty - Leander,TX
8. Sam Roberts- Arlington,TX
9. Dianne Stimson - Crawford,TX
10 Traci Bond- Kerrville,TX


SHOW


1. Aunt Donna's - Donna Conrad,Crawford,TX
2. Tall Girl Frog - Sue Caffey, Rockdale,TX


From Darin Jester:


Just wanting to wish all of you a Merry Christmas, and a safe holiday season. For those of you who are looking for something to do, Come ring in the New Year with you chili family and friends. The Hoosier Great Pepper's New Years Eve CCO, is looking for cooks, judges, and family and friends to ring in the New Year with. We are up to 36 cooks from 8 different states so far. If ya wanna come out and have a safe evening, RSVP to Tonya - crazyladychili@sbcglobal.net or me - flashoverchili@sbcglobal.net. Country Inn and Suites - 821-1100 has extended the block of rooms till 12/24. See the flyer for info here on the Indiana Pepper Pod FB page. Be safe, and have a joyfull hoidays.




From Vickie Childress:


I just want to remind anyone interested in coming to the Tri-State Open Chili Championship. 


Tthe deadline for a chance to get in to the drawing for a free room is your registration must be post marked December 28th. Merry Christmas to everyone.


Information for the Tri State Championship:
The Tri-State Open Chili Championship will be held in Amarillo, TX on January 9, 2010. The cook-off is held inside the Rex Baxter building on the Tri-State Fairgrounds. The cook-off benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Plains. Ground Meat only and turn in is 1 PM. Entry Fee is $25.00 with checks payable to the Tri-State Open. Mail entries to Vickie Childers 4300 Olsen, Amarillo, TX 79106. For those early registrations post marked on or before December 28, 2009 you have a chance in the drawing for a free room. The host hotels are Fifth Seasons Inn $49.00 at 6801 I-40 West 806.358.7881 and the Days Inn East $47.00 at 1701 E I-40 806.379.6255. Please ask for the Tri-State open or the Make-A-Wish Open rate. If you have any questions please contact Vickie Childers 806.355.7387 or e-mail me @ vickiefromtx@aol.com.



Also on Friday night, January 8, 2010, we will host out Pod cook-off in the same building. Ground Meat only and turn in is 8:30 PM entry fee $20.00. Make checks payable to Tall in Texas Pod and mailed to Vickie Childers. See address above. We will also have a cooks party and a meal on Friday night. Jr. cook-off Friday night entry fee $5.00 turn in 7:30. Kids cook in a supervised area. These are great cook-off hope to see you there.

Results from Blanco's Bar & Grill. Houston TX


What a great day we had in Houston. The rain that we have had for weeks finally came to and end on Thursday and we had a beautiful day on Saturday. The weather was great, we had 47 cooks and 5 show teams. Everyone was in the holiday spirit...or at least holiday spirits with them. I would like to thank Karin Barnes and the staff at Blanco's for a great time. Thanks to the tally team, Ralph Hay, Sherrie Davis, Chuck and Dorothy Spishock. Thanks to my referee Mayo Blair. A special thanks to Pat Krenek ,Maxine Reed, Larry and Nancy Netardus for running the silent auction. Thanks to Al Austin and Sherry Tinnerella for helping out with announcements. Thanks to all the runners, monitors and workers that helped out. Without all of you, I wouldn't have been able to sit back and watch. That's such hard work you know. In reality, we all had a wonderful time. We had many chili friends come in from Beaumont, Cedar Park, Kingsland, Louisianna, and the far reaches of the Guld Coast area to share a wonderful day with us. and we had got a special suprise right before juding started. We had a celebrity judge on our final table; for you basketball fans out there you will understand the exicitement....we had Rudy Tomjanovich...Rudy T on the final table. For non-basketball fans out there....Rudy T was the coach of the Houston Rockets during the back to back championship wins and the attempt for the three-peat.


Thanks again everyone for a wonderul day.


2nd Annual Friends of Texas Open
Blanco's Bar & Grill
Houston TX


47 chilis judged


1st Place Roy Davis, Pasadena TX
2nd Place Jana Daily, Cedar Park TX
3rd Place Nancy Draper, Katy TX
4th Place Vicki Hebert, Pearland TX
5th Place Sherrie Davis, S Houston TX
6th Place Della Leonard, Bellaire TX (Her first point ever)
7th Place Deborah Benefield, League City, TX
8th Place Malcolm Williams, Beaumont TX
9th Place Michael Mayorga, Magnolia TX
10th Place Donna Foley, Galveston TX


Show
5 Show Teams


1st Place, Lone Star Chili Chix, Pat Krenek, Houston 2nd Place, One More Foggy Bottom, Jim Conley, Round Rock TX
3rd Place, Oilfield Trash, Larry Hammock, Houston TX


From Cythnia Gill:
Mark your calendars for January 30 and plan on joining us in San Miguel, Mexico for our 1st CASI International CCO.  This CCO is incorrect in the Dec and Jan Terlinqua Trails.  It is not a State CCO, but an International CCO.  The first 3 places will qualify for TICC.  The website for our cookoff was incorrectly listed (not CASI's fault - it was the fault of our web hosting company) - it's http://www.chiliandcharros.com/.   There will be lots of activities and lots of fun.  If you have questions, you can contact me at ynlynn@aol.com or Lisa Tyson at guanajuatochica@gmail.com 


NOTE:  Please send your CCO results to our new TallyMaster Jenny Windsor.  Her address is
Jenny Windsor
210 Kennedy Drive
Severne Park, MD 21146

Yesterday afternoon I spoke to Ken Rodd.  

A couple of days ago he had an accident while he was cooking wing outside on his stove.  His stove was accidentally hit and the pan started to fall.  He tried to catch it and keep it on the stove.  As he did, the hot grease poured on to his hands causing sevre burning of the palms of both hands.  One of the observers went into the Office and called 911.  He was taken to the hospital where they treated the burns.  He doesn't remember much of what happened.  They did release him with pain medication and some other medication.  He has to return to the Wound Center every couple of days where they debred (remove the skin) and rerap it.  He is still in a lot of pain and is not able to do much.  They will have to continue to reevalutate his hands and the skin.  It was in good spirits, but said he wouldn't be capable of doing much for quite a while.  He has learned to play solitare on his computer.  He can do very little.  He told me it would be a while before he would be cooking Chili again.

From Carrie Kinnison:
HO! HO! HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM THE HIGHLAND LAKES CHILI POD

Another Reminder About the New Years CCO In Kingsland, Texas! Make your plans now....you will not regret it....4 Days of Chili-Charity-Fun!

It's not too early or too late to make your plans to come join The Highland Lakes Pod and friends, celebrate and bring in The New Year, at The American Legion Post 437 in Kingsland, Texas, on December 31st thru Sunday-January 3rd. Plenty of RV parking (NO HOOKUPS) and lots of room for day cooks.

Thursday-Dec. 31st---American Legion New Year's Eve Party 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. $7.50 per person (chili cooks)-BYOB-setups available-Black-eyed peas, cornbread and champagne at midnight. Dress is nice casual or you can wear your party clothes. Hot dogs at 6:15 p.m. at The Kinnison camp furnished by Northwood Care Center and The Highland Lakes Pod.

Friday-Jan. 1st---Community breakfast (sausage gravy & biscuits) at 9 a.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Black-eyed peas $5 turn-in 12 noon. Chili $15 turn-in 2 p.m. chili grind only. Benefits American Legion Post 437. Cooks party Friday evening 6:30 p.m. chili time furnished by The Ladies Auxiliary. Friday evening games and social time...wear your PJ's if you like and bring your quarters.

Saturday-Jan. 2nd---Community breakfast (full breakfast) at 9 a.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Chili $15 turn-in 2 p.m. chili grind only benefiting American Legion Post 437 Ladies Auxiliary. Pot luck dinner Saturday evening 6:30 p.m. chili time. Games and social time again....get comfortable, wear your PJ's and bring your quarters.

Sunday-Jan. 3rd---Community breakfast (continental breakfast) at 9 a.m. registration starts at 9 a.m. Chili $15 turn-in 1 p.m. benefiting HLP charities.

If you have been to these CCO's and party you will want to return. Let's WELCOME the New Year in together. The COMMUNITY BREAKFAST is for all to share and to give us all a Jump Start for the day. Please sign up to contribute to the breakfast with Carrie Kinnison (drk@tstar.net). Bring your items to Carrie early so that she can make a store run if necessary. Volunteers to help are welcomed. THANKS AND LET'S HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

SEE YOU THERE!

From Dana Plocheck:
The January Terlingua Trails is available for viewing on the CASI Web Site.

Once again I would like to remind you that we have a new TallyMaster.  Please send you CCO Results information to Jenny Windsor at 210 Kennedy Drive, Severne Park, MD 21146,

It Friday again (TGIF).  Here's hoping you all have a great weekend.  I know that most of you will not be cooking chili since there are only a few CCOs.  Many of you will begin you Holiday travel.  Please be careful and stay safe.