Winter is almost here, which means you and your family members may start arriving at the dinner table with numb fingers and toes. So before it gets chilly, get smart by prepping your kitchen in advance with these cold-weather essentials.
Hot Tea
Start the evening by pouring everyone a mug of hot tea. The liquid warmth will revive their spirits, and the mug will give them something hot to wrap their cold fingers around.
In addition to being incredibly soothing, tea also provides a number of health benefits. For example, tea will help keep everyone's metabolism up and running. That's especially important if your family is less active when it's cold outside. Also, tea is loaded with antioxidants, which may help strengthen their immune systems.
Simmering Soup
On a frigid day, a steaming bowl of soup is perfect for melting away chills. And believe it or not, there's more to soup than chicken and noodles! In fact, soups come in all kinds of nutritious varieties. (Make sure you check the sodium content, though. You should only consume about 1,500 mg of sodium a day.) Try serving these delicious autumn soups for different tastes and health benefits:
- For vitamin A: pumpkin soup
- For vitamin C: butternut squash soup
- For lycopene: tomato soup
- For fiber: split pea soup
- For folic acid: lentil soup
- For iron: Manhattan clam chowder
Soup can also be part of your family's health or weight-loss plan. According to research, those who start meals with a broth-based soup tend to eat 10 to 15 percent less calories overall. That's because soup is very filling and, when it's broth-based, low in calories.
Hearty Stew
Want something a little heartier? Pull out the slow cooker and make a stew. Stews can do wonders for hungry stomachs on a cold day. They're also a favorite for busy moms; the cooker does most of the cooking for you! Most stews are made with lots of vegetables and one type of meat, although you can substitute the meat with beans. Try this delicious
Maple Pork and Vegetable Stew for starters. You can find more full recipes on various cooking sites online.
Delicious S'mores
By this point in the meal, your family should be ready for a different kind of warmth—family fun with s'mores! To get started, give everyone a long skewer to melt marshmallows over a fire. Don't have a fireplace? You can make s'mores in your kitchen. First, have the kids squish a marshmallow and a few chocolate chips between two graham crackers. Then, place the dessert on a microwavable dish and heat for 30 to 45 seconds. When you've made enough for everyone, gather around the fire or the kitchen table and share funny stories.
