From the category archives:

Recipes for Winter

Whole Wheat Gingerbread Pancakes

by Laura 2 March 2011
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When I begin to long for winter to melt into spring, for the crocuses to pop their heads up and to feel the sun on my face again, the best remedy is to make something that I would only cook in the wintertime. It’s a nice reminder of the excitement I feel when the season [...]

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An Old-fashioned Minnesota Blizzard & Rich Hot Chocolate for Two

by Laura 20 February 2011
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After a taste of spring, we are in the midst of another good old-fashioned Minnesota blizzard.  I love a blizzard.  Here in Minnesota, snowfalls come and stay for the winter every year, but a real pileup, one that sends people en masse to the markets and shops the day before it’s to hit, is always [...]

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Confetti Chili

by Laura 15 February 2011
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When I was in college, before college dining halls were paeans to choice, we waited in line to greet the food service ladies as they dished up whatever they had cooked that day.  We had dishes like Side of Clyde, Ziti Bake, and Party Rice.  Whenever that particular fare was served, my best friend would [...]

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North Woods Split Pea Soup with Ham

by Laura 8 February 2011
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My Honey Girl’s best friend Laura shares my love of split pea soup.  During their middle and high school years, on the occasion that I made a pot, she would bring over a little container and bring home a portion for herself.   She and my Honey Girl always seemed to be laughing or squealing about [...]

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Lacinato Blue Kale Soup with Creamy White Beans and Ham (Slow and Lightning Quick)

by Laura 3 February 2011
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Okay, confessions first:  I love kale.  But even my Dear Husband and Sweet Boy, who would never be true cheerleaders for a soup with kale, eat it up happily.  And now that Americans seem to be gobbling down bitter salad greens like arugula and frisee, I hope I can talk you into looking past kale’s [...]

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Boneless Short Rib Ragu

by Laura 27 January 2011
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This sauce is so simple and so delicious.  It has all the unctuous richness of short ribs, but you don’t need to fuss with extracting them—dripping from the pan—to remove bones or shred them.   It’s the kind of recipe that, after a little time devoted to browning, is quick to put together and perfumes the [...]

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Simple Puy Lentil Soup with Spinach

by Laura 3 January 2011
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I make a loose plan for a week’s worth of menus every Thursday night and make my routine call for requests to my Dear Husband and my two sweet teenagers. Usually it’s an amusing list of what they don’t want: “No wet meat!” my Honey Girl who dislikes braised dishes might yell from the kitchen. [...]

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Winter Supper: Swedish Meatballs, Rot Kraut, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Fennel and Green Apple Salad with Juniper Berries, & Swedish Rice Pudding with Spiced Sour Cherry Compote

by Laura 30 December 2010
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After two months spent preparing for Christmas, when it’s over the mood in our house is usually a little tired.  A long, gray winter lies ahead of us and the magic of Christmas is past.  It’s nice, then, to continue the festivities for a few days by making a meal or two like this one.  [...]

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Roast Pheasant with Pan Gravy

by Laura 22 December 2010
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I am test-driving a pheasant tonight for Christmas Eve dinner at my darling sister Molly’s house.  In fact, her husband got twelve pheasants on a recent hunting trip, and, if all goes well, we’ll be feasting on them together Friday night.  I haven’t had a pheasant dinner like we’re planning since my dear grandfather passed [...]

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Beef Brisket

by Laura 20 December 2010
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Our Honey Girl is home from college!   And since she is a consummate carnivore and lover of all things beef, I made a beef brisket for one of her first dinners home.  When she and our Sweet Boy were little, they took a turn cooking with me one night a week and planned menus.  After [...]

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Winter Supper: Beef Stew & Farmhouse Rolls

by Laura 12 December 2010
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There are a couple of simple keys to making a great beef stew.  Buy good beef, brown it really well on all sides, don’t crowd the pan during the process, and don’t move it while it’s browning.  If you do that, and mingle it with other best-quality ingredients, you can’t go wrong.  This is my [...]

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