Seasonal Cooking - Winter Recipes
From Kevin D. Weeks., former About.com Guide
Soups, Stews, and Braises
Soups, stews , and braises are all similar in that the ingredients are slowly (much of the time, anyway) in liquid. The liquid may be simple water but a better choice is often stock, broth, beer, or wine. Although all are wet cooking methods, they vary in the nature of the liquid with soups containing the most liquid and usually of a thin consistency (although richly flavored); stews containing somewhat less liquid, often thickened; and braises the least liquid, also thickened. Braising also usually involves large cuts of meat instead of bite-size pieces.
- Tip: Perfect Soups, Stews, and Braises
- Country Ham and Bean Soup: Flavor-Packed Goodness
- French Beef Stew (Boeuf en Daube)
- Pasta and Bean Soup (Pasta e Fagiole)
- Lentil Soup: A Solution to Leftover Turkey
- Braised Lamb Shanks with Carrots and Oni
- Milk-Braised Pork Chops: Deceptively Simple
- Corned Beef and Cabbage for Two
Casseroles and Savory Pies
Like soups, stews, and braises, casseroles and savory pies are a rib-sticking hallmark of winter fare. Also, like soups, stews, and braises, they usually don't require a lot of effort or fancy skills to produce - and besides, they can be a great way to use up leftovers. They can be mostly meat, partially meat, or meatless and so are an excellent way of economizing
- Lasagna with Italian Sausage and Mushrooms
- Shepherd's (Cottage) Pie: Gaelic Goodness
- Easy Cassoulet: Beans at Their Best
- Turkey Pot Pie: Way Better than Tetrazini
- One-pan Baked Ziti with Tuna
- Chicken and Rice: An Old Favorite
Winter Veggies
Although the width of our choices for seasonal, local vegetables is narrower in the winter than the options we have the rest of the year, the options are often deeper. Instead of choosing between yellow and zucchini squash we have pick butternut, spaghetti, delicata, acorn, and buttercup squash. Turnip, collard, and mustard greens are all in season as is kale and Brussels sprouts. Then there are the roots like rutabaga, turnips, parsnips, and potatoes. It's a great time for vegetables!