Patriotic News ---U.S. Army Chili-the 1st Printed Recipe (submitted by U. S. Army--this recipe is original circa 1896 From John Thorn's 1990 article in Chile Pepper Magazine). Soldiers of the U.S. Army on the Western frontier had been eating chili since the war with Mexico (1846) but not necessarily in their messes. The first Army publication to give a recipe for chili was published in 1896, The Manual For Army Cooks (War Department Document #18). By World War I, the Army had added garlic and beans; by World War II, tomatoes. This was a national pattern: Fannie Farmer did exactly the same (see the editions for 1914, 1930, and 1941). Recipe is "per soldier" Ingredients: 1 beefsteak (round) 1 tablespoon hot drippings 1 cup boiling water 2 tablespoons rice 2 large dried red chile pods 1 cup boiling water Flour Salt Onion (optional) Cut steak in small pieces. Put in frying pan with hot drippings, cup of hot water, & rice. Cover closely & cook slowly until tender. Sauce: Remove seeds & parts of veins from chili pods. Cover with second cup of boiling water and let stand until cool. Then squeeze them in the hand until the water is thick and red. If not thick enough, add a little flour. Season with salt & a little onion, if desired. Pour sauce over meat-rice mixture & serve very hot. ##