Rant: The guilt over tweaking my dad's chili recipe

My dad's chili was a big part of our family events, with his special spice mix. He gave me the recipe when I moved out. Later, my wife did not eat meat, so I cooked the chili without it. My uncle tasted it and said it lost the family touch. I was torn between keeping my dad's way and cooking for my new family. These days, I prepare two pots, but it feels wrong to change his dish. Thinking back to those winter evenings, I miss how he did it.