How to Cope with a Northeastern Winter

Every winter, I say, "BRING ON THE SNOW!" I'm one of those annoyingly optimistic people who loves the cold and thinks snow is a beautiful blessing, not a annoying curse. I'm the type to claim that I even enjoy running in the snow.



At least...I used to be.

Sometime between the Great Winter of 2010 and this here Great Winter of 2011, I fell out of love with it. I STILL like cold weather, as long as it's over 20 degrees F. I STILL like snow, as long as it's on a day I don't have to a) drive anywhere or b) run anywhere. I'm tired of digging out my car! I've had enough of high-stepping through snowdrifts at a 12:00 min/mile pace! (And don't even suggest the treadmill.)

My running trails look like this:


But on days when lab closes early (*cough*today*cough*), and I arrive safely home after slipping all over the roads, I still appreciate the beauty of it. A mug of dirty chai, some Doctor Who, and delicious home-cooked meals and the cat and I are HAPPY!



What have I been cooking lately? Some WONDERFUL recipes.

First, please try EatLiveRun's Black Eyed Pea Stew with yummy sausage. I used kale instead of collards, because I heart kale. I also didn't have vegetable broth or soup, or chicken bouillon cubes, so I added water and extra spices. It was excellent when served with tortilla chips!

Second, eat these brown sugar meringues, because they are perfect. We made them using my new mixer:



Kelsey and I ate an entire batch one evening while watching many episodes of Psych. Amy and I ate an entire batch over two days, while watching Doctor Who and Hamlet (the David Tennant and Patrick Stewart version). Yes. We did.

Third, do combat the meringues with a healthy kale salad, because we heart kale and have some leftover from the soup.



Fourth, you should have a second dessert. Or two. Make some fabulous chocolate chip cookies:


And for no good reason other than you have yolks leftover from making meringues, whip up some Citrus Curd. I don't like tangerines, so I substituted lime juice.

Lemon sugarrrr:


Absurdly delicious:


Finally, go high-step through a snow bank for three miles.

Or at least take a walk!




I also recently made Guinness Stew, but as it's a recipe I got from my mother and I took detailed-ish pictures (more than usual), I'll devote the very next blog post to it. :)

I'll then get back to my sister's visit!