# What's the most complicated meal you've ever prepared? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 2, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-complicated-meal-youve-ever-prepared/980588 "2023-03-02T14:20:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 131
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2024, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-complicated-meal-youve-ever-prepared/980588/131 "2024-02-19T16:21:31Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Oh yeah, I can see adding allspice to chili. Yeah, my suggestion for allspice was from your recent thread on making award-winning chili (where you do say you used it, too): > [@Help me make some award-winning chili!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-some-award-winning-chili/996739/15): > > I also like to add a light “accent” spice, which in my case is a little bit of allspice. > [@Help me make some award-winning chili!](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-make-some-award-winning-chili/996739/35): > > So here’s how I made my chili: > > I started out toasting whole cumin seed, allspice berries (thanks for that idea @pulykamell - allspice was a fantastic addition), I checked around, and I don’t see myself suggesting using it for gumbo. It feels a little odd to me, but a subtle spicing wouldn’t hurt, I don’t think. Polish soups and stews (and sausage) often use a bit of allspice in them, and it’s not really noticeable. Then again, my mom would put like 3-5 whole allspice berries for an enire gallon of soup, so it’s not going to be forward in the palate. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-complicated-meal-youve-ever-prepared/980588)._