Oh, what a winter it’s been, and it’s only January. It started in November and it seems it’s hardly let up. Sure, we’ve had a few mild days here and there, but they’ve been overshadowed (snowed in, so to speak) by relentless, no-holds-barred winter weather.
We’ve seen it all. Lake effect snow and streamers that ran over us for days, dumping deep snow. Widespread ice storms (we were spared, thank goodness). Cold weather alerts. Wind chill warnings (a numbing -40 polar vortex is no treat). School and business closures. Blowing snow warnings. Whiteouts. Road closures, airport delays, transportation mayhem. Plows depositing walls of snow boulders at the end of the driveway.
And did I mention my old nemesis, black ice? We had some of that in the thaw/freeze cycle after the November snow storms, but the worst is yet to come when spring approaches in fits and starts.
All in all, a good old-fashioned Canadian winter. The kind we used to have when I was a kid.
It’s not all bad. After all, when you’re not shovelling it, stuck in it or driving in it, the snow is pretty. It makes a great backdrop for food photography and the air is clean and fresh. Best of all, this is the perfect weather for hearty, stick-to-your ribs comfort food. You know the kind: stews and pasta dishes, hot, full of flavour and satisfying. Just the thing to last us through the hibernation until spring.
Here are 22 recipes to help you forget that the barbecue’s engulfed in a snowdrift.
Beef Stews & Other Comfort Dishes
Beef Curry with Potatoes, Red Pepper & Spinach
Ginger Orange Beef Stew with Chinese Five Spice
Hamburger Skillet Dinner with Potatoes & Tomatoes
Middle-Eastern Inspired Beef Stew
Poultry Comfort Dishes
Chicken/Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash
Pasta Dishes (Meatless)
Pasta with Garlic, Red Chili and Lime
Pasta with Olive Oil & Cremini Mushrooms
Pasta with Potatoes, Cabbage & Cheese
Pork Winter Goodness
Hearty & Satisfying Vegetable Dishes
Panchphoran Aloo Indian Potatoes in Whole Spices
Indian Style Cauliflower & Sweet Potato
Rustic Potato & Tomato Casserole
Kitchen Memories
One Year Ago: Homemade Soup to Soothe – Chili-Seasoned Corn & Cauliflower Soup with Chickpeas and Spinach
Two Years Ago: Mise en … whoops!
What a delicious roundup! Hope you are keeping warm. I adore winter and the comfort foods that we get to eat. It’s summer here and I have to say, while we haven’t been eating such heavy meals, we haven’t been eating many salads either. There is something very satisfying about a big pot of deliciousness bubbling away on the stove.
Thanks for stopping by, Bunny! Oh, the cold continues. We’re under another wind chill warning right now. I just spent the evening canning apple butter, so it’s good and warm in here, alright. I know what you mean about hot food in the warm weather — we eat a lot of soup when we’re on vacation at the beach in the summer. So good, even on a hot day, and so easy!
It will definitely be a winter to remember, we are in the midst of yet another snowstorm with more than a foot predicted and another one on the way in a couple of days that all they are saying now is it will be significant. Each and every dish you mentioned is perfect for this weather. And yes, snow is pretty when all you have to do is look at it which seems like most of the time this winter. 🙂
It’s been snowing all day here too. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of this prettiness for this year! That said, I’ll be making my Hungarian Goulash this afternoon to counteract the effects of falling and blowing snow.