Firefighters judge temple's 20th chili cook-off fundraiser

Members of the Hoffman Estates Fire Department judged the 20th Annual Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser, held by the social action committee at Beth Tikvah Congregation in Hoffman Estates.

A sold-out crowd spent a great evening together enjoying food, friends and good deeds. Money raised from the event will help fund social action programs to help the congregation make a better world.

Through the efforts of the entire Beth Tikvah community, congregants and students made soft, colorful fleece blankets to donate to the children's hospital at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

In keeping to the Social Action Committee's belief that "It's not only in our hearts, it's in our hands," more than 150 blankets were donated to the children who will receive a little bit of cheer and warm hugs while hospitalized.

Blankets were auctioned off and immediately donated back to the temple to send to the children at St. Alexius.

Winners of the 2015 Chili Cook-Off, as judged by the firefighters, were: first place, Ira Kopin for his traditional beef chili; second place Jim O'Day for his "Go Go Yubari" (sweet and hot); third place, Merice Washer for her traditional chili.

In the "unchili" category, the winners were: first place, Caroline Elkins for her unstuffed cabbage; second place, Deb Bakal for her farro salad; third place, Ilene Kettering for her eggplant Parmesan.

In the dessert category, the winners were: first place, Todd Hacker, for his chocolate peanut butter pie; second place, Jodee Levy, for her vanilla bean shortbread cookies; and third place, Yvette Olson for her cherry cheesecake.

Participants gave The People's Choice Award to the traditional chili by Phil Kornick, the pumpkin soup by Ellyn Weisz, and the Oreo cake by Caroline Elkins.