What odd things do you add to Chili?

[Very_Boring_Name]

I've been trying out some new things with chili. I decided to add two cans of kernel corn, and it is DELICIOUS. I've heard that replacing the tomatoes with a jar of salsa is delicious aswell. I also recently saw a commercial for mustard, where they recommended putting some in chili. I'm not sure I'm open minded enough to give that one a try, but it sounds interesting.

[Sentath]

1. Well..

Don't use all salsa, not to make me happy, too much bell pepper.
A small splash of rice vinegar can restore the proper acid balance if too much cooks off or you use tomato paste, which I find sweet.
Mustard can be good, but I wouldn't recommend any more than 1/2 tsp / quart.

OH! Nopalitos are good.

Some evenings we start off towards chili and take a left in the direction of leftovers and end up with something...

I've been looking at this recipe for almost a decade, but never found the courage to prepare it: http://books.google.com/books?id=BKDwPD_ZZ_kC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=serve+it+forth+cooking+with+anne+mccaffrey+chili&source=bl&ots=VVZ5NTfjnV&sig=UamCB98sHaGUAC4FBai7fZdOTRo&hl=en&ei=Q7zaTZDyIOfL0QHN47n8Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFkQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=revolution&f=false

[japple]

2. Pinch of cinnamon and a little cocoa. It adds a lot of richness

of flavor and gives chili, enchilada sauce and other things a beautiful color.

[Tesha]

9. Cocoa? Holé Molé! (NT)

[hvn_nbr_2]

3. I like your corn idea

I add a can of corn fairly often and I like it that way. Sometimes I add various veggies (usually depending on what needs to be used up before it goes bad), but it can quickly change from chili to chili-like stew.

Now and then, I reduce the chili powder and add curry seasonings, but again, that starts be become chili-like Indian stew or something.

[kestrel91316]

4. I use pinto beans and NEVER EVER kidney beans. Other than that I am

a chili con carne traditionalist: ground beef, onions, garlic, bell peppers, chili powder, canned tomatoes. And saltines on the side.

[Warpy]

5. Peanut butter and cocoa.

You'd be surprised by the richness they add. If you don't have unsweetened cocoa, a little instant coffee will also do.

[Tesha]

6. Veggies!!!

My favorite after corn - is zucchini
sometimes carrot,

of course peppers and onions - in nice big pieces

and then cornbread that slips off the edge of the bowl into the chili - mmmmm

[april]

7. cocoa /aka as ohio chili

I add 1/4 cup of cocoa to my chili 4 cloves of roasted garlic

[Arkansas Granny]

8. I don't know how odd it is, but I always put a tablespoon or two of vinegar

in my chili just before I serve it. It really brightens up the flavor.

[no_hypocrisy]

10. A variety of beans

Red kidney, pink beans, garbonzo beans, black beans