Recipes to Keep You Warm this Winter
Living in Wisconsin means learning to withstand brutally cold winters. Between the bone-chilling winds and inches of dense snow, it can be challenging to keep warm, but having a few recipes to whip up in the kitchen can make this winter a bit more bearable.
Meals to Keep You Warm
There's something special about a homecooked meal on a cold winter night. Try these healthy comfort options to warm yourself up.
Tuscan Bean Skillet
Filled with vegetables and protein, a Tuscan bean skillet is the perfect comfort food for a cold night. Start by sautéing 8 ounces of mushrooms in a skillet. Remove the mushrooms from the skillet after cooking and use the skillet to sauté one large onion. Add three cloves of minced garlic and 2/3 cups of sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Let the skillet cook for 2-3 minutes, then add in 2 cans of fire-roasted tomatoes and two cans of your favorite beans. Add the mushrooms back to the skillet along with oregano, pepper, and thyme. Stir everything together and let cook for 10 minutes on medium heat.
Italian Wedding Soup
Italian wedding soup is a tasty mix of pasta, vegetables, and meat all in one. Start by sautéing 1 cup of carrots, 1 cup of yellow onion, and 1 cup of celery in a large pot. Once the onions are translucent, add one tablespoon of minced garlic and continue to sauté for another minute. Next, add in 8 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil.
While the broth is boiling, it's time to make the meatballs. Traditional Italian wedding soup uses a mix of ground beef and ground pork for the meatballs, but you can make the meatballs with ground turkey for a slightly healthier version. Combined 1 pound of ground turkey, half a cup of breadcrumbs, two eggs, three cloves of garlic, half a cup of chopped onion, and half a cup of freshly chopped parsley into a bowl and mix until all ingredients are blended. Roll the meat mix into 1-inch balls and place on a baking sheet. Next, cook the small meatballs at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. The meatballs will be a little pink inside but will finishing cooking once added to the soup.
Stir the meatballs into the pot with the vegetables along with ¾ cup of Acini de Pepe pasta. Simmer for 10 minutes or until the pasta and meatballs are thoroughly cooked. Stir in 1 cup of spinach, and your soup is complete!
Beverages to Keep You Warm
Nothing beats a cold winter night like curling up on the couch with a warm beverage. Try these hot and healthy options during the next Wisconsin snowstorm.
Almond Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate tastes great, but many hot chocolate mixes are full of additive sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. A quick, easy alternative to instant hot chocolate mixes is to heat a cup of chocolate-flavored almond milk. Pour some chocolate almond milk into a saucepan and heat at medium heat for about 5 minutes. Make sure to stir the milk as it warms, so it doesn't burn. For extra taste, add in a dash of cinnamon, or serve with a fresh cinnamon stick. If you're not a fan of almond milk, you can also use chocolate soy or oat milk.
Tea Latte
If you're looking for a more adventurous drink, try making a tea latte. Start by heating water on the stove or in the microwave, then brewing half a cup of your favorite tea. Since you're only making half a cup of tea, you won't need to let your tea brew for long unless you want a stronger tea. While the tea is brewing, heat half a cup of milk on the stove. Stir occasionally to keep the milk from burning. Once the tea is brewed, and the milk is warm, add the milk to the tea and stir. If you have a handheld milk frother, you can use that to add a bit of foam to your drink. Finish with a dash of cinnamon and enjoy.
If you or a loved one lives in the Fond du Lac or Calumet counties, the team at Visiting Angels Fond du Lac would be happy to assist in preparing these delicious meals to keep you warm this winter. In addition to meal preparation, our compassionate caregivers can also help with light housekeeping, transportation, personal grooming, and more. If you'd like to learn more about our services, give us a call at 920.375.5555.