It's Friday and time to prepare for the weekend. If you want to cook chili this weekend, there are lots of places to chose from. I'm not sure you will need to use a stove to cook your chili if you are doing it in West Texas. At 105, I think you can probably cook your chili on the sidewalk.

Congratulations to Herb Ross. Last weekend he qualified for TICC. Herb is 98 and as far as we can tell, he is the oldest cook to have ever qualified for TICC. WAY TO GO HERB!

From Tonya Jester:
This next weekend, July 18th and 19th, Indianapolis is hosting back-to-back cookoffs…

Saturday, July 18 – Country Inn Chili and Ribs CCO
Sunday, July 19 – Indiana Pepper Pod Annual CCO

On Saturday, we will be hosting special guests…John Dillinger’s family and Carol Sissom, the author of “Banking with Dillinger” (www.carolsissom.com). We might even convince them to cook or judge.

How did this come about, you ask…well, last night, we went to one of their book signings. Darin works with Mike Thompson (Dillinger’s nephew). Mike’s mom (Frances) is John’s sister.

After sitting and chatting for a while, we thought it would be a unique opportunity for all and invited Carol and the “Dillinger Gang” (as the family refers to themselves) to set-up a book signing at the cookoff.

For those of you who are not from around here and are wondering “why Dillinger?”, his homestead is in Mooresville, IN, about 6 miles straight down the road from the cookoff site.

I grew up in this area and the locals did not see Dillinger as “Public Enemy No. 1” but as a celebrity with a big heart.

NOTE: Thanks to all of the Pods that have already completed their annual report and have returned it to me. This is allowing me adequate time to process the information and make sure that your report is complete and you are ready to be seated at the Great Pepper's Meeting.

Have a GREAT WEEKEND. Cook lots of chili. May there be lots of winners. And above all, try to stay COOL.