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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 06, 2021, 03:50:14 PM

Title: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 06, 2021, 03:50:14 PM
Winter is coming. We're headed into the darkness of Winter and need something to keep us going through the cold and dreary days.

What do you do to get through these times? Have a favorite soup or stew? Post your recipes here (and other ways to getting to the other side of Winter).
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: mahagonny on November 06, 2021, 04:44:58 PM
Mahagonny's crazy soup

Two cans of mushroom soup
mushrooms, calamata or sweet black olives, onions, celery and or fresh peppers in skillet w/butter & olive oil
small pieces of browned or grilled chicken
minced or chopped garlic, sundry spices
half and half
a little water if it's too thick

Wife thinks it's nuts, to which I reply 'well, I thought I was enjoying it while I was having it.'
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: dismalist on November 06, 2021, 04:51:50 PM
Quote from: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 06, 2021, 03:50:14 PM
Winter is coming. We're headed into the darkness of Winter and need something to keep us going through the cold and dreary days.

What do you do to get through these times? Have a favorite soup or stew? Post your recipes here (and other ways to getting to the other side of Winter).

Ah, thank god daylight saving time will be over in six hours on the East Coast.

Winter? Favorite soup is wine! Mulled, but only if hell is freezing over.

Happy Winter, everybody!

Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Puget on November 06, 2021, 05:01:58 PM
Having a bright full spectrum "happy light" on in the morning helps me a lot.

I also love soup. I make a variety, but most often a sort of vegetarian minestrone we called "refrigerator soup" growing up because it involves hauling out whatever is on hand-- it pretty much always has a can of tomatoes, carrot, onion, celery, potato, beans, and pasta, but the other ingredients are variable-- green beans, frozen peas, corn, squash, kale, cabbage, etc. can all go in if available. So can some veggie sausage if desired. Serve with some parmesan or other cheese and some oyster crackers or toast. Filling, warming and comforting.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Larimar on November 07, 2021, 04:26:16 AM
Soup here too, and vegetarian chili with cornbread, made in the crock pot.

Also hot herbal tea. Sleepytime Honey is one of my favorites for evenings, and Japanese Sen-cha during the day.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: cathwen on November 07, 2021, 05:04:52 AM
Chicken stew with dumplings—nice fluffy ones.  Another vote for chili and cornbread.  Lasagna.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: sinenomine on November 07, 2021, 05:41:43 AM
And another vote for veggie chili and cornbread. I'll add pasta with pesto. For winter drinks, Earl Grey tea, or coffee with Bailey's.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: waterboy on November 07, 2021, 05:44:40 AM
Soup, chili, and sitting in a recliner covered in cats.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Larimar on November 07, 2021, 05:49:52 AM
Yes, definitely cats on the lap.  :)
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Puget on November 07, 2021, 06:19:37 AM
I should have added-- the best thing I did last year was have a gas "wood stove" installed in the living room. It doesn't have the same crackle and smell as a real wood stove, but the convenience of turning it on with a remote more than makes up for that, and the flames and wonderful radiant heat are the same. If there is one thing cozier than cats on your lap it is cats on your lap in front of a fire. Highly recommend if you can swing it-- stove plus installation was under $4k.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on November 07, 2021, 08:41:10 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 06, 2021, 04:44:58 PM
Mahagonny's crazy soup

Two cans of mushroom soup
mushrooms, calamata or sweet black olives, onions, celery and or fresh peppers in skillet w/butter & olive oil
small pieces of browned or grilled chicken
minced or chopped garlic, sundry spices
half and half
a little water if it's too thick

Wife thinks it's nuts, to which I reply 'well, I thought I was enjoying it while I was having it.'


Wow! That sounds really good; I never considered the olive-mushroom combo, though I like it on pizza. Which spices work best?
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: AmLitHist on November 07, 2021, 10:09:28 AM
That soup sounds good, Mahagonny!

For me: vegetable soup (made with ground turkey or beef, and a cup of quick barley added at the last 20 minutes); chili; chicken and egg noodles, with onion, carrots, and celery (thicker than soup--not too much broth); cats; my heated massaging chair; and lots of yarn/crochet projects to work on.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: downer on November 07, 2021, 10:15:03 AM
Yoga, running, and hiking. I love snow shoeing.

In Jan or Feb I plan to plant some seeds indoors with grow lights for plants that I can then put in the ground in April.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Harlow2 on November 08, 2021, 04:47:41 AM
Quote from: downer on November 07, 2021, 10:15:03 AM
Yoga, running, and hiking. I love snow shoeing.

In Jan or Feb I plan to plant some seeds indoors with grow lights for plants that I can then put in the ground in April.

Hiking for me too (I do about 20 miles per week) and growing lettuce under lights. I meant to get it started 2 months ago, but maybe this conversation will be spur to action. I also start tomatoes and peppers, but those won't go into the ground here until Mother's Day.

Vegetarian chili with the peppers I've grown, and various kormas.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: mahagonny on November 08, 2021, 04:50:51 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on November 07, 2021, 08:41:10 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 06, 2021, 04:44:58 PM
Mahagonny's crazy soup

Two cans of mushroom soup
mushrooms, calamata or sweet black olives, onions, celery and or fresh peppers in skillet w/butter & olive oil
small pieces of browned or grilled chicken
minced or chopped garlic, sundry spices
half and half
a little water if it's too thick

Wife thinks it's nuts, to which I reply 'well, I thought I was enjoying it while I was having it.'


Wow! That sounds really good; I never considered the olive-mushroom combo, though I like it on pizza. Which spices work best?

Thyme, bay leaf, parsley I guess. Salt and pepper.  I'm open to new ideas.

Carrots might be nice too.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: apl68 on November 08, 2021, 07:19:45 AM
Been eating quite a bit of taco soup lately.  All of it prepared by either family or friends.  I was with friends who had it yesterday evening.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: AvidReader on November 08, 2021, 08:43:50 AM
Quote from: Harlow2 on November 07, 2021, 08:41:10 AM
Quote from: mahagonny on November 06, 2021, 04:44:58 PM
Mahagonny's crazy soup

Two cans of mushroom soup
mushrooms, calamata or sweet black olives, onions, celery and or fresh peppers in skillet w/butter & olive oil
small pieces of browned or grilled chicken
minced or chopped garlic, sundry spices
half and half
a little water if it's too thick

Wife thinks it's nuts, to which I reply 'well, I thought I was enjoying it while I was having it.'

Wow! That sounds really good; I never considered the olive-mushroom combo, though I like it on pizza. Which spices work best?

I had a central European soup with green and black olives once, and it was dazzling.

AR.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: Morden on November 08, 2021, 08:44:40 AM
Carrot soup with garlic and ginger. (I use a chicken broth, but vegetable would work)
Lots of slow cooker meals.
And I just started a sauerkraut batch on the weekend.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: mamselle on November 08, 2021, 09:01:21 AM
Big batch of curry.

M.
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: hmaria1609 on November 08, 2021, 12:45:44 PM
Getting a flavored coffee, tea, or hot chocolate from a local gas station for my commute in the mornings.  Beats standing in line doing self-service!
Title: Re: Winter Sustenance Thread
Post by: evil_physics_witchcraft on November 08, 2021, 02:24:35 PM
We tend to do more crockpot and slow cooker meals from scratch:

chicken curry
beef stew
vegetable soup
potato soup + cheese
lentil soup
chicken stew/soup
chili

Coffee is also a must have. Hot cocoa with marshmallows and homemade vanilla makes everything feel good. And I almost forgot, an electric blanket, heating pad and portable heater. I am using 2 out of 3 right now and youngest evil cat is using the other.