Firehouse Chili with Mariah Ankenman

During my research for the Mile High Firefighter’s series, I learned cooking meals is a chore shared by everyone in the firehouse. Right away, I knew I had to make Ward a terrible cook. A running gag throughout the series is how bad Ward’s cooking is. In The Firefighter’s Dilemma, Díaz comments on it more than once, and gives him crap about it because teasing is their love language.

I, however, am an excellent cook. Okay, I’m decent…Fine, I haven’t poisoned anyone yet. Today I’d like to share with you a recipe for firehouse chili that even Ward couldn’t screw up. Though I’m sure Díaz would argue that if there was a way to mess it up, Ward would find it, lol. The great thing about this recipe is you can switch out the ingredients to your liking. You can make it spicier with different peppers, change out the meat or use no meat for our vegetarian friends. The options are endless. So, without further ado, let’s make some firehouse chili.

Ingredients:

1 can of black beans

1 can of red beans

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of green chilis or peppers (pick the pepper for the heat level you enjoy)

1 can of corn

2 5oz cans of V8

Ground beef/turkey/fake meat crumbles (optional)

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp celery salt

¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped

Steps:

If you’re adding meat, cook the meat first and set aside
Rinse the beans and put them along with the drained corn, tomatoes, V8, chilis/peppers into a pot over a medium heat
Stir for about ten minutes, adding in the meat
Add the spices and cilantro and stir for another 5 to 10 minutes or until it bubbles
Serve with your favorite chili topping, I like cheese and sour cream

And there you have it. An easy chili recipe that not even Ward could mess up…but maybe let’s let Kincaid do the cooking instead…just to be safe. If you need a spicy, laugh-out-loud read to go with your meal, don’t forget to grab your copy of The Firefighter’s Dilemma out 2/27/23.

Firefighter Stephanie Díaz won’t let anyone stop her from becoming the youngest female fire chief in Denver. Not the jerks who’d like to see an ambitious Latine woman admit defeat. Not the ultra-bro firefighters she has to work with. And definitely not her ridiculously hot and often infuriating, fellow firefighter Eli Ward. Now Stephanie has the chance to prove to everyone that she’s got what it takes…but there’s one helluva catch.

The Battle of the First Responders is a live, balls-out competition in the secluded Rockies and Stephanie has been selected—along with Ward as her partner. On the line are their reputations, a whole lot of cash…and the promotion they’ve been fighting for. Teaming up is the perfect chance to finally settle their never ending one-upmanship, but it also exposes the smoldering attraction they’ve held at bay.

Now their days are fueled by a high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled competition. Their nights are filled with sizzling deep kisses that steal her breath away. But this sexy little fling is about to set off a five-alarm blaze she can’t control…

Each book in The Mile High Firefighters series is STANDALONE:
* The Dating Dilemma
* The Wedding Dilemma
* The Firefighter’s Dilemma

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious daughters and loving husband who provides ample inspiration for her heart-stopping heroes. Her books have been nominated for the prestigious RWA Golden Heart® and CRW Stiletto awards. Whether she’s writing hometown heroes or sexy supernaturals, Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books.