Pumpkin Chili

If you don’t like pumpkin, look away now.

Sparkling Pumpkin Spiced Apple Juice

Actually, just don’t read the ol’ blog here for the next month or so, because I’m knee-deep in an obsession that just won’t quit.

Sparkling Pumpkin Spiced Apple Juice

This was an impulse buy from – where else? – World Market, and it’s amaaaaaazing.  And look how neat the bottle is!  I’m easily amused.  When this is all gone (and it’ll take awhile…it’s being savored one small glass at a time), I’m going to attempt my own.  I’d bet if you took regular apple juice (low-sugar, anyone?) and simmered it with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves before refrigerating it again, it’d be almost the same thing; the “sparkling” didn’t last very long, anyway.  Also, if you’re so inclined, I can tell that Goldschläger would complement this beverage very well.  I might just have to test it out on myself to make sure….

I was so cold yesterday and could NOT get warm, even after going for a run and bundling up in sweats.  I was in the mood for some hot comfort food and asked around on Twitter for a pumpkin chili recipe, and got several great links I’d love to try in the future.  This one from RecipeGirl, however, won for dinner.

pumpkin chili pumpkin chili

I made a few changes, though, and next time I’ll make a few more.  I added diced sweet potato (which didn’t cook in the crockpot – yes, I used the crockpot – so I had to fish every tiny piece out and nuke it) as well as some sage and rosemary, and even though I used minced garlic, I added garlic powder after tasting it.  Next time, I either won’t use any cumin at all, or I’ll use significantly less.  I wanted it to be spicy (chili powder) and savory (garlic, sage, rosemary) at the same time, and the cumin gave it a “Mexican food” smokiness I didn’t think belonged.

Of course I had a corn muffin with mine, all crumbled up on top and mixed together.

pumpkin chili with corn muffin

Have you ever tried a pumpkin chili recipe?  What’s your favorite “different” chili recipe?