Get your chili and soup fixin’s at the commissary Published Oct. 10, 2007 By Kay Blakley Defense Commissary Agency FORT LEE, Va. -- A curious phenomenon occurs in Defense Commissary Agency stores everywhere this time of year. To prepare for it, DeCA's meat and grocery managers have learned to pay close attention to the weather forecast, because the first cold snap of the season brings hordes of commissary shoppers in search of soup and chili fixin's. And, why not - a bowl of well-seasoned chili is tailor-made for chili weather, and if you choose the ingredients carefully, a steaming bowl of soup offers a ton of satisfaction for only a handful of calories. Chili is about as personal as a comfortable pair of shoes - we each know how we like it, and no other way will do. If that description fits you and you have a favorite recipe, just keep using it. If you're still playing the field for a favorite, go to DeCA's Web site at www.commissaries.com and click on "Kay's Kitchen" where you'll find my very own recipe for Southwest Style Chili. It includes canned hominy in addition to the usual beef and beans combination. Even people who think they don't like hominy love my Southwest Style Chili. Looking for something a little lighter in calories, but still warm and soothing? Try one of the soup recipes featured on our Web site. Soups lowest in calories will almost always be those made with vegetables and a clear broth base. If the recipe starts with sautéing the vegetables in butter or oil, cut calories by using only half the fat called for, and add one-quarter cup water or broth. This technique, called sweating, serves the same purpose as sautéing (tenderization and flavor development) and sometimes does it even better. If cream soups are more to your liking, but you think they are all too high in fat and calories, do the math before rejecting a favorite recipe. Divide the total amount of cream called for into the total number of servings the recipe will make. For many recipes, a one-cup serving of the soup will contain only a few tablespoons of cream. There are 16 tablespoons in a cup, by the way - you'll need to know that in order to do the math. Most cream soups can also be made with low-fat milk, yogurt or a touch of sour cream, all of which are much lower in fat and calories than regular cream. No time to cook? No problem. We've got you covered with a wide selection of ready-made soups including canned soups (both condensed and ready-to-serve), packaged dried soup fixin's (just add water or broth), even soups to sip while you're on the run (just microwave, shake and drink from the built-in, sip-top lid). Want it at cost? Then buy it at the commissary, where an average 30 percent savings is already built in. Bring your coupons to save even more!