Come Blessed Winter, Come

Is it too early to get excited about my favourite foodie season of the year?

Yes? No? I don’t care!

Winter is coming.You can smell it and feel it, and for me, it comes with the ability to stockpile calories believing that my metabolism will increase in the cold and everything will be sorted, and I will still emerge with a summer body at the other end.

As you well know by now, I love my pasta and potatoes. Pap is still a love-hate relationship, but I discovered a trend which I will be sharing with you in the coming weeks and which you will either love or absolutely hate. I think we will make it a challenge.

My love for these hard carbs that everyone will tell you to take in moderation (as with all things) has led me to develop recipes in all formats for winter, and I am never out of options. Pasta bakes, one tray wonders, broths and soups, pies and quiches, decadent desserts … the list is endless.

Weight wise, this is understandably my worst time of the year, but this year I want to see if I can keep the same enthusiasm and flair in the kitchen, minus the calories.

So, what should be our objectives for this coming season?

Eat Mean but Lean

Winter can be depressing on its own and you don’t want your food to suck at the same time. So, we will make banging recipes that are both a joy to eat but also kind on the waistline.

Stay Hydrated

Warm drinks, teas, coffees, hot chocolate, infused water. This is the season to be experimental with warm drinks and have different types of teas and coffees daily. I think my love for coffee is amplified in this weather. I have invested in 27 coffee cups (15 of them you can use on the go), so my love for coffee is out there. Without spending too much, you get to be your own barista at home this winter.

Challenge the Status Quo

So, from normal semolina pasta to brown pasta as an alternative, rice to oats, maize meal to ground semolina, beef to goat. Premium cuts to cheaper, more flavourful options, and greens in all ways, shapes and forms. Kale salads, thrilling coleslaws, the works! We’re about to do kitchen makeovers this winter.

Efficiency is Key

Our cooking style in winter is stress-free but also convenient. We want great food, but we are not about to slave away at the stove for over four hours just to get it. We are going to throw food in one pan, switch the oven on and come back two hours later for a great pork leg. We are going to cook our starchy vegetables together with our meat and save ourselves a world of dishes because time spent doing dishes would be better used eating dessert.

Take Time to Socialise

To chase away the winter blues, we are going to challenge ourselves to socialise more. If invited, go for that dinner, make a little something to take with you and enjoy the company of others. Often, we get into the motions of work and home and forget to take care of the social aspect of who we are.

So, as we prepare for the cold and start unpacking the blankets and heaters (with NamPower coming at us with those bills), may we enjoy this winter, and even when the sky turns grey in parts, may our hearts remain warm.

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