Following Thanksgiving, we start to expect more winter. Winter is a time when the world slows down, and the days become shorter. There's less sunshine for us to get vitamin D and light therapy. In the kitchen, nothing encapsulates the season quite like a hearty meal that warms you from the inside out. Winter soups, stews, and broths have been a beloved tradition in many households, a ritual that not only nourishes the body but also provides a sense of comfort and togetherness. The scents of simmering pots fill the home, evoking memories of family gatherings and cold nights spent by the fire. It's a reminder that sometimes, the simplest things bring the greatest joy.

 

There's something profoundly satisfying about a bowl of homemade soup. Take a classic beef and vegetable soup, for instance. Its hearty chunks of meat, combined with tender vegetables and a rich broth, create a comforting and filling dish that's perfect for a cold winter day. It satisfies our senses and sates our appetite like nothing else can on a cold, winter night. Or consider a chicken noodle soup — simple yet incredibly effective at lifting spirits and restoring energy. There's an entire book series dedicated to the topic. The tender chicken pieces, combined with aromatic herbs and vegetables, provide a delicious and nourishing meal. These dishes are not just meals; they are traditions passed down through generations, each recipe holding a story, a moment in time preserved through taste and aroma. If you can get your hands on a worn-looking, stained, and dog-eared cookbook from an older relative, this is like having your own culinary gold mine. 

 

On the other end of the spectrum are the robust, thick, meaty stews and nourishing broths that define winter dining. A beef stew, slow-cooked with tender chunks of meat, potatoes, and carrots, offers a hearty meal that feels like a warm hug. And let's not forget about bone broths, rich and flavorful, simmered for hours to extract every bit of goodness from the bones. Save your bones from grass-fed and pastured cuts because those are especially valuable for homemade stocks and broths. These broths serve as the foundation for many dishes, providing depth and complexity to soups and stews alike. Whether it's a lamb stew with a dash of rosemary or a simple pork bone broth, these recipes showcase the art of slow cooking and the joy of savoring every spoonful.