Check Facebook to Match Your Gift

A bad fire season is predicted this year in the Rocky Mountains. The rain we’ve been having certainly helps, but our volunteer fire departments are preparing for a dry summer. With this in view, The Big Chili Cook-Off has set a goal of increasing sponsorships by 30% for this year’s cook-off. You can be involved! Check The Big Chili on facebook for details.

You may think only businesses can sponsor The Big Chili, but that’s not true! Everyone can be involved. Everyone can feel the satisfaction of contributing to our local fire departments. In fact, we’ve had a local business step up with a matching gift this spring. This means, if you donate $10, they will match it with $10. If you donate $40, they will match it with $40 – - all the way up to $1,500! This means that right now, whatever you are able to give will be doubled. That’s fantastic!

Check The Big Chili on facebook for more information about our matching program. You can go to The Big Chili anytime  (by clicking here) to donate online. Thank you! Every volunteer hour, every monetary gift, and every gift in kind helps our firefighters to be better equipped and better prepared.

Matching Your Gift

A bad fire season is predicted this year in the Rocky Mountains. The rain and snow we’ve been having the last couple of days certainly helps, but our volunteer fire departments are preparing for a dry summer. With this in view, The Big Chili Cook-Off has set a goal of increasing sponsorships by 30% for this year’s cook-off.

You may think only businesses can sponsor The Big Chili, but that’s not true! Everyone can be involved. Everyone can feel the satisfaction of contributing to our local fire departments. In fact, we’ve had a local business step up with a matching gift this spring. This means, if you donate $10, they will match it with $10. If you donate $40, they will match it with $40 – - all the way up to $1,500! This means that right now, whatever you are able to give will be doubled. That’s fantastic!

Check The Big Chili on facebook for more information about our matching program. You can go to The Big Chili anytime  (by clicking here) to donate online. Thank you! Every volunteer hour, every monetary gift, and every gift in kind helps our firefighters to be better equipped and better prepared.

 

Good Deeds

“A good deed is never lost: he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who plants kindness gathers love.” - Basil

photo by zanastardust

Thanks Best Buy!

Why Best Buy? – in their own words:

· Our team doesn’t work for commission, they work for you.

· Geek Squad agents and installers are ready to set up, install or repair your gear, no matter where you bought it.

· We can talk about technology with you all day… but only after we listen.

· Great everyday financing options

We are thrilled to have Best Buy Lakewood joining us again as a sponsor of The Big Chili Cook-Off. They are generously donating a flat-screen T.V. to our silent auction, so make sure you come out to the event and put in your bid! Don’t forget to visit the Best Buy booth at the cook-off. They haven’t forgotten our volunteer fire departments, and for that we say, “Thank you!”

1stBank Evergreen – Doing it Again

The Big Chili Cook-off Music and Arts Festival is going for bigger, better, let’s blow the doors off this year, and 1stBank Evergreen has climbed on for the ride.  They were a big sponsor last year and they have signed on again.  The Big Chili is thrilled to put our names on the same marquis as 1stBank.  They are a bank that has embedded themselves in the mountain community, offering their support to a wide variety of organizations, doing their part to keep it all moving.  It is a matter of heroes honoring heroes, when 1stBank steps up to support our Volunteer Firefighters.  As the saying goes, it takes one to know one! Thank you 1stBank!

Generosity

“The ultimate expression of generosity is not in giving of what you have, but in giving of who you are.” ~ Johnnetta B. Cole

Thank you to our many volunteers!! If you are interested in volunteering for The Big Chili Cook-Off this September, check here for more information.

Memories

Memories of September 11, 2011 ~ The Big Chili Cook-Off

The next Big Chili Cook-Off is coming faster than you think. If you’re interested in sponsoring or volunteering, please check here for more information. Thank you!! You make this event happen.

Bacon-Swiss Veggie Dip

Another really yummy prelude to your favorite chili:

Bacon-Swiss Veggie Dip (courtesy of Rachael Ray)

Ingredients

• 8 slices center cut bacon, chopped
• 8 ounces softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 rounded teaspoons prepared Dijon style mustard
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese, available on dairy aisle
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1/2 cup smoked almonds, coarsely chopped
• Baby carrots and a selection of spiced flat breads, cocktail sized pumpernickel or rye breads, or sliced whole grain baguettes, for dipping

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Brown bacon in nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Drain crisp bacon bits on paper towels.

In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, Dijon, Swiss and scallions with cooked bacon. Transfer to a shallow small casserole or baking dish and bake until golden and bubbly at edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Top with chopped smoked almonds. Place dip on a platter and surround warm casserole with breads and carrots for dipping.

 

Caramelized Onion Dip

This sound absolutely delicious ~ and a perfect accompaniment for that bubbling pot of chili.

 

Caramelized Onion Dip (from Real Simple)

 

Ingredients

            2 tablespoons unsalted butter

            2 medium onions, thinly sliced

            kosher salt and black pepper

            1 8-ounce bar cream cheese, at room temperature

            1 cup sour cream

            2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

            thick-cut potato and vegetable chips, for serving

Directions

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a medium bowl, mix together the onions, cream cheese, sour cream, chives, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Serve with the chips.

Doing Good

Being good is commendable, but only when it is combined with doing good is it useful.  ~Author Unknown

Many of us have good intentions, but sometimes the busyness of life overtakes us and we fail to follow through. This can be overcome simply by having a plan ~ a plan for charitable giving, a plan for volunteering, a plan for how we can give back to our community. What’s your plan? Whatever and wherever you choose to give, we salute you. And if you choose to give your time or talent to The Big Chili Cook-Off, raising funds for our volunteer fire departments, then we not only salute you, we also thank you.