A Big Bowl Of Hot

This is the weather for something hot and satisfying.Nothing beats a big bowl of anything steamy and tasty.It'll not only thaw you out but provides comfort for the soul.Best of all it's easy to create them,a boon after some heavy duty shoveling and sledding. You can start a cold winter's day off with a smoking bowl of hot cereal.Oatmeal is not only delicious but high in fiber.Add some cinnamon or maple syrup for flavor.Farina is another great start on a frigid January morning.You can have it with milk or even cream .The best bet for both is adding dried blueberries or cranberries for extra flavor and nutrition.For lunch think about a hearty soup. Minestrone is one of the easiest and creative to make.You could start with a rich beef broth and add tomatoes , onions and celery.For true heartiness ,think about adding beef or hamburger along with elbow macaroni.You can also sub in a variety of beans for the meat.Chowders are another sustainable choice.You can use canned corn to make a rich corn chowder.Like minestrone ,it's pretty easy to make up.With any homemade soup it pays to make big batches so you can freeze it and cook them when another storm comes. Luckily a snow day off means time in the kitchen.You can create some big bowls of chili and stews.Chili is one of the easiest dinners and even lunches to make.Just mix up beans tomato sauce along with onion and garlic to create some to definitely take the chill away.Chili powder is a must but you can make it as mild or as hot as you'd like.Crackers are a nice side but it definitely tastes better over polenta or rice.If you want something milder but still as good then think about making goulash.This is a classic Hungarian dish that has a mélange of beef chuck ,onions and tomato paste.Paprika is liberally sprinkled in to give it a sweet heat.It's usually served over egg noddles but some American goulash recipes have it over macaroni.For sheer simplicity try stew. It's an easy blend of carrots, and onions with either beef ,chicken or lamb.If you're feeling ambitious you can also make simple flour dumplings to absorb the gravy. A big bowl of hot is one of your best defenses during this bone chilling time.Start or end your day with one to feel toasty. It's better than any blanket or scarf!