SPICE RESCUE:
Need to

ing off? if the chili's too hot for you, or you
just need a little break from the heat, you can use ice cream,
sherbet, or ice

milk for immediate relief. Keep some
frosted mugs of milk nearby.
Using Dried Chiles vs. Chile Powder - Some recipes here call
for preparing dried chiles such as ancho or New Mexico varieties.
You can substitute a chile powder for these, but it is hard to
know what an accurate equivalent would be. Try one tablespoon
of powder per pound of meat for starters. As with the blended
chile sauces, add half of the total amount of powder initially,
gradually adding more until it's right for you.
Note: Chile powder is not the same as chili powder. The former
is pure powdered chiles, while the later is chile powder plus a
bunch of other spices (like "instant chili").