Alternatives to Winter Classics (For When You’re a Little Bit Over it)
Ok, I know winter isn’t going to be over for a while (no matter what the groundhog said), but is anyone else getting a little tired of the same old tried and true winter favorites? I love a good chili and a chicken noodle soup, but honestly, I’m a little over it. So I did a little hunting and put together a list of some of my favorite alternatives to your winter kitchen go-tos.
Instead of chicken noodle soup, try…
I love chicken noodle soup, and with a couple of snotty kids running around (they’re not reading this, right?) I’ve come to rely on it. As the winter drags on, though, I’d love a flavor that’s a little more exciting, with a little more –I’ll say it –pizzaz. This coconut lime chicken noodle soup from Martha Stewart is just the ticket. Creamy, spicy, refreshing, and still full of all the good stuff that keeps you and your family healthy. (Recipe here.)
Instead of red chili, try…
Instead of a classic bowl of Texas Red, try this delicious chili verde from Serious Eats. With fresh green peppers, tender juicy chicken, tomatillo and a touch of fish sauce, this recipe is both refreshing and robust. I cannot recommend it enough. (Recipe here.)
Instead of chicken pot pie, try…
Lamb, peas, and mint is one of my favorite flavor combinations. Mint makes anything taste like it came straight from your garden, and that bright pop of a sweet green pea can make you leave your winter woes behind. So why not skip the tried-and-true chicken pot pie and go for this bright and nourishing lamb, pea and mint pot pie from Souvlaki for the Soul. (Recipe here.)
Instead of baking chocolate cake, try…
Ok, I want to make it perfectly clear that I will never, ever, ever say “no” to chocolate, but… every once in awhile, when you’ve been stuck indoors for many months, you’re feeling a little sedentary and the idea of making a scrumptious, winter-y, oozy chocolate cake is just a little teeny-weeny bit unappealing. Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re going to skip dessert. Enter the winter pavlova from What’s For Supper. Crispy, creamy, and loaded with luscious seasonal fruit, this is a dessert that isn’t going to contribute to your winter hangover. (Recipe here.)
Instead of hot chocolate, try…
Ok, last one. Do you ever feel like you get to a point in the season when the idea of hot chocolate is much more appealing than the actual experience of drinking it? It’s not that you don’t love it, it’s just that you can’t actually finish it. Well, have you tried “hot vanilla”? It’s like drinking cinnamon toast, or heating up the milk in the bottom of a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch –that is, absolutely heavenly. (Recipe here.)
