Every autumn I remember that the cheapest thing in my pantry is also the most generous. A pot of beans asks for almost nothing and pays you back for days.
Start them before you’re hungry
Beans on the stove by four o’clock means supper without panic at seven. Garlic, a bay leaf, a glug of good oil, and the heel of whatever cheese is in the drawer. That’s the whole recipe, truly.
Ladle the first bowls with bread. The second night, mash the rest onto toast with a fried egg. The pot always knows what the week needs before you do.