Cocoon at Home

Winter can be a challenging time. It's important to keep the body warm and the spirit uplifted. Make an effort to keep out the cold that can enter the body and spirit during these chilly months.

When the days are cold and gray, taking on additional tasks can seem daunting. I dread leaving the office to travel home in the dark. Once home, though, I like to light candles and make myself a cup of English Breakfast Tea. I change into warm, comfortable clothes - like my favorite cashmere socks - and begin to shift gears and go into cocooning mode.

I begin by cooking dinner for my family. One of my favorite meals to serve during the cold months is homemade chicken soup. It's easy, and doesn't require much thought after a draining day. I serve the soup with crusty bread and a rich red wine. My family loves this meal. In one bowl we find the perfect combination of ingredients for warming our bodies and restoring our spirits after a long day of school and work.

Les Fleur Du Bois collection available at RosannaInc.com

Another way I stay warm is to drink hot beverages throughout the day. Sipping a great cup of coffee, a fine tea, or a treat like hot cocoa - and taking a moment to truly appreciate it - can give the body an instant and much-needed lift on a bone-chilling day. Another trick I learned from my mother is to drink a mug of warm water. As she always told me, "Drinking hot water is like taking a bath inside your body." The water cleanses your system, moving out toxins and providing a sense of refreshment without caffeine or sugar.

While you're cocooning and staying snug indoors, don't forget to venture out into the sunlight as often as possible. Even if the temperatures are low, light itself - especially natural light - is essential to keeping out moods bright.

Stay cozy!

Warmly,

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Chicken Soup

"It's so cold outside!"

In January, the heart of winter, staying warm is just about the only thing we can think about. In this time of year, we crave food that heats us from the inside out. However, we're not so far away from the holidays either. Light, clean cooking is the order du jour. But there's the bur--we want warm and filling but also light and clean. How to strike a balance? It's tricky.

I start with Leftover Chicken Soup. The clear broth keeps this dish from becoming too substantial. The vegetables make it fresh. The carcass of a previously roasted chicken imparts a wonderful, satisfying depth of flavor, and the noodles make this soup a classic comfort food dish. Leftover Chicken Soup makes a good winter meal because you can cook a big pot, eat some and freeze the rest for another blustery winter's night. Enjoy with a full-bodied red wine, Umbrian Montefalco and Montepulciano from Tuscany are two of my favorites, along with a loaf of fresh, crusty bread.

Leftover Chicken Soup (serves 8)

Ingredients
2 large carrots - cut into 1/4 inch rounds
2 large celery ribs  - chopped into 2 inch crescents
Carcass and pan drippings from a roasted chicken
1 lb parpardelle noodles (wide egg noodles)

1. Fill a large stock pot halfway full with water. Add the carrots, celery, chicken carass and pan drippings. Bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Boil for 5 minutes then reduce to a simmer.
3. Remove carcass, stripping off all loose meat. Add meat back to pot.
4. Cook over low heat for 1 hour.
5. Just before serving, add the pasta. Parpardelle comes in nests. Crack the uncooked nests in two before adding so the noodles aren't too long.
6. Cook at a simmer for 15 min or until noodles are soft.
7. Serve hot in low, shallow bowls
8. Make sure to save some for your children's lunch tomorrow!

*Photo courtesy of John Granen for Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions. Published by Abrams: Stewart, Tabori & Chang.

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Winter Soup Is Good For The Soul

When the weather gets nasty and wet, as it is likely to do in the Pacific Northwest, it's time for me to get out my biggest pot and make a generous batch of soup. My family's favorite is my Italian lentil soup. I like this dish for a few reasons:

It's delicious
It's healthy and all natural
It's a one dish meal
One pot can last for days, or it can be frozen for another night; whether it's weeks or months later
It is a favorite among vegetarians (my oldest daughter) and omnivores (the rest of the family) alike
It is a meal that satisfies the soul

So, now that I've spoken so highly of this soup, here's recipe. That way, you can make it and see for yourself what I'm talking about.

ROSANNA'S LENTIL SOUP
Ingredients:
1 lb. small green lentils
soak in a bowl of water 1 hour
sautee in 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 organic carrots chopped finely
1 sweet onion chopped finely
5 cloves of garlic chopped finley
3 stalks of celery chopped finely

1. Sautee Vegetables until soft,
2. Add the lentils that have been drained from the water and sautee for 5 minutes.
3. Add 2 large cans of organic chicken broth.
4. Cook on a low heat, simmer with covered lid for about 1 1/2 hours until all lentils are soft.

Serve with crusty bread drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

This is a wonderful meal for cold winter nights. Serve with a delicious Italian red wine. My favorite from Umbria, Montefalco rosso.

Enjoy,





www.rosannainc.com