Winter has hit with a vengeance, and in my neck of the woods, this isn’t exactly normal. Here in the south, we have cold temperatures and ice storms, but we don’t see snow that often. Growing up in the northeast, I’m used to snow and love to watch it fall outside my window, but I don’t miss it all that much.
One thing I love when the weather gets cold is cooking. Meals that warm the belly and soothe the soul are especially rewarding. The meals that feel like a cozy blanket you can’t get enough of. If you are looking for ideas for these kinds of meals, I’ve got you covered:
1. Soups
Soups are one of the best meals on a cold, chilly day. They are very versatile, from broth soups to creamy soups, and have all kinds of delicious ingredients in them. Favorites at our house include stuffed pepper soup, potsticker soup, and creamy chicken rice soup. We are having chicken gnocchi soup tonight, and I want to make a chicken taco soup recipe I saw the other day.
2. Stews
What is the difference between a soup and a stew? A stew is much thicker than a soup, almost having the consistency of a gravy. Often, stews have large chunks of vegetables and meat in them, hence the term “stew meat.” You can find all kinds of recipes for stews. I recently made a turkey stew that was delicious.
3. Casseroles
This is another cozy meal you can make on a cold winter’s day. They are easy to throw together, some having more ingredients than others. There is something magical about taking a bite of warm, ooey-gooey casserole and tasting all the flavors. Favorites in our house are tuna noodle casserole, chicken noodle casserole, taquito casserole, baked enchiladas, and baked parmesan spaghetti casserole.
4. Crockpot Meals
Crockpots are your best friend any time of year, but especially in the winter. Throw in some ingredients, set the timer, and walk into a house filled with the smells of a home-cooked meal after work. Some of our favorite crockpot meals are chicken n noodles, cajun pasta, and buffalo chicken soup. f
You can also use your crockpot to make desserts, too. If you have a snow day and aren’t using your crock for a meal, look up a cake or cobbler recipe to make. I made a molten lava cake once in my crockpot and it was amazing. One thing you have to double-check is the size of the crockpot the recipe calls for. Some cake recipes require a 3- or 4-quart crockpot, while others use a larger one.
5. Instapot Meals
You can whip up meals extremely fast with an Instapot. When you get home late on a winter’s night, this appliance is a godsend. One of our favorite meals is creamy mushroom pork chops.
6. Hot Sandwiches
Who says sandwiches have to be cold? You can make all kinds of hot sandwiches in the winter. Consider sandwiches like hot Italian subs, cheeseburger sliders, or hot turkey sandwiches. You can even find hot sandwich recipes for the crockpot like creamy chicken sandwiches and sausages and peppers. Of course, grilled cheese and soup is always a classic pairing.
7. Breakfast
Breakfast for dinner can also be a cozy meal to enjoy with your family. Homemade waffles or pancakes with lots of butter and pure maple syrup. Sausage gravy and fluffy biscuits. Sandwiches made with English muffins or biscuits and filled with eggs, cheeses, and meats. Don’t forget coffee or hot chocolate and some fruit on the side.
8. Bread Bowls
Bread bowls are a great substitute for dishware. Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and you can hollow them out and put all kinds of things in them. Things like soup, chili, spaghetti, and dips. I’ve seen recipes for grilled cheese bread bowls, garlic and mozzarella bread bowls, and breakfast bread bowls. You can either buy the dough at the grocery store to make your bowls or make dough in a bread machine and then shape it into bowls and bake it. Either way, you will have a delicious meal all the way to the last bite.
9. Baked Pastas
Nothing beats a pan of baked pasta on a frosty night. This kind of casserole has so many variations you can make, like baked parmesan chicken spaghetti. You can make Italian sausage and penne casserole. Baked rotini and vodka sauce and, of course, the traditional lasagna are great options. Add a loaf of crusty garlic bread and a crisp salad to round off a cozy, delicious meal.
10 .Traditional Dinners
Think about the traditional dinners that your mom and grandma used to make. Maybe you had meatloaf with mashed potatoes or pot roast for dinner every Sunday. Where I’m from, we make chicken and waffles with chicken gravy and chunks of chicken poured over waffles. Dutch chicken pot pie is also big, which is a simmered broth with chicken and homemade dough noodles. Salisbury steak, fish n chips, and homemade macaroni and cheese are other traditional dinners. Go through your cookbooks and see if you can find the recipes you grew up on. Whatever you make, share the memories from your childhood with your family.
How to Add Some Cozy Ambience and Fun to Your Meals
Not only is the arrangement of food on the plate important, but the meal’s ambiance matters too. Here are some ways to add some cozy ambiance to your meals, changing things up with your eating routine:
-Eat dinner by candlelight. Most people associate candlelight with romance, but it doesn’t have to be that way. This could be a fun way to eat with your kids.
-Curl up with blankets and food and eat in front of the TV. Gather as a family and watch a movie together while enjoying dinner.
-Have an indoor picnic. Spread out a blanket and eat dinner while you watch the snow fall outside.
-Eat and play board games. This is a fantastic way to gather for a meal and enjoy your time together.
-Get up early and have breakfast together while watching the sunrise.
-Have the family get dressed up and have a glamorous meal together.
-Have the family eat breakfast in Mom and Dad’s bed.
-Eat in the same room as your fireplace. If you don’t have a fireplace, look for one on YouTube and enjoy it while eating dinner.
-Consider a special dessert night, like fondue night.
-If you have skylight windows, eat under the stars.
There are all kinds of cozy meals you can make in the winter and tons of ways to make meal times warmer and more inviting. Think about your family’s tastes and go online to find the coziest recipes you can. Talk to them about which fun ways they would like to make dinner more exciting. The next time you’re in the kitchen, have your family help you cook. When you sit down together with a delicious meal and cozy ambiance, it will be the perfect way to spend time together and get closer.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Pippi Longstocking
Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.
