Set out a toppings bar with all the fixings for a DIY chili bowl that scores big time. The standards should be present — chopped white onion, sliced scallions, shredded cheese, hot sauce, sour cream, lime wedges, cilantro, tortilla chips — but if going the extra mile, add pickled jalapenos, crumbled bacon, tortillas and anything else that takes a chili bowl over the top. Serve the chili in a slow cooker to keep it warm, or use a covered pot, preferably one that is cast iron for its heat-retaining properties.

By Teri Tsang Barrett