Chili In a Bread Bowl

Summary

Jennifer, the author, baked bread bowls to creatively address the lack of serving bowls for a pre-party chili dinner, testing them by serving soup in two the night before.

Abstract

This weekend, the author hosted a pre-party to allow their party planner to better understand the event space. With a fluctuating guest list initially expected to be around ten people, the author opted for a simple menu of chili and corn on the cob. Faced with a shortage of bowls, and needing some for chili toppings, the author decided to bake bread bowls. Following an online recipe, sixteen bowls were made, with two being taste-tested with soup to ensure their quality before serving them to guests. The author, Jennifer, shared this experience and the homemade bread bowl solution in a personal narrative.

Opinions

The author views the bread bowl solution as a way to turn a potential problem (lack of bowls) into a "delicious virtue."
Jennifer seems to be a resourceful and proactive host, taking the initiative to bake the bread bowls and ensure they were suitable for guests.
There is a sense of pride and accomplishment in having made the bread bowls from scratch, as indicated by the mention of the author as the maker of both the photo and the bread.
The author values presentation and guest experience, as evidenced by the desire to have matching or at least presentable bowls for serving chili and its fixings.

Or soup

Photo (and bread) by author

This weekend we hosted a pre-party. It was an opportunity for our party planner to see our space. That way, she’ll be better able to plan.

The guest list kept fluctuating. So, I decided to serve chili and corn on the cob. We expected 10.

We don’t have ten matching bowls. We don’t even have ten non-matching bowls. Unless you count the one that’s cracked. And I needed some of them to serve the fixings for the chili — red onions, white onions, tortilla chips, and avocado slices.

What could I do? Bake bread bowls. Turn necessity into a delicious virtue.

I found a recipe online, and made two batches. I baked 16 bread bowls, and served soup in the two ugliest the night before. That way I knew they tasted good before serving them to guests.