A bubbling pot of fragrant chili on the stovetop is a delicious signal of the cold weather here. So let’s warm up with some fantastic new recipes, each a twist on the traditional. Today’s recipes are sure to surprise and satisfy.

Blended organic tomatoes and green chiles add a smooth richness to Texas-Style Beef Chili, which tastes — and looks — great served over cornbread wedges. Mole Chicken Chili offers a balanced savory sweetness with hints of cocoa and cinnamon. And Black Bean and Chorizo Chili features spicy sausage cut with crumbled white Mexican cheese. There’s also a Vegetarian Tortilla Chili that pairs fresh ingredients like zucchini and avocado with the convenience of canned fire-roasted tomatoes in a colorful, flavorful presentation.

Whether friends are dropping by for a special occasion, or you just want to freshen up the weeknight dinner rotation, there’s something tasty in store for chili fans of all ages. Visit www.MuirGlen.com for more recipe ideas.

Smoke signals from secret ingredient

You’ve heard about them on TV cooking shows and read about their one-of-a-kind flavor in food magazines, but what’s the big fuss over fire-roasted tomatoes?

Distinct fire-roasted canned tomatoes are a convenient offering in the tomato aisle. Muir Glen takes its award-winning organic tomatoes and roasts them using a proprietary blend of natural hardwoods in an open-flame searing and smoking process to blacken the skins and deliver a signature smoky flavor.

“Fire-roasted organic tomatoes can be used in place of regular canned tomatoes in most recipes where you want to create a subtle yet rich, smoky tomato flavor,” explained Jennifer Kalinowski, test kitchen expert for Muir Glen. “They’re a flavorful, versatile option for chili, soup, salsa, pizza and pasta sauce recipes.” Look for these special, convenient, whole, diced and crushed fire-roasted tomato varieties at your supermarket or natural foods store.

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Contact Laurin Stamm at lstamm@vicksburgpost.com.