That’s what my dad used to say when the fist cooler nights of September came through. And I believe it. There’s a definite tinge to the fall air – maybe just a hint of frost – that leaves an unmistakable impression: We should be resurrecting some traditional cooler-weather dishes…
Classic Beef and Bean Chili. Yes! Along with exotic favourites like Indian Tikka Masala
and Hungarian Goulash, this Tex-Mex favourite also falls into the broader
category of ‘Stews’ – which, like Soups and Casseroles,
is a go-to recipe style for cooler weather!
What are your favourites?
Among the dishes I hear most about when I quiz folks on their favourite cool-season meals are Mac and Cheese, Baked Beans, Chili and Beef Stew. All well and good, but that’s not a lot of variety, is it?
Today, Let’s take a look at some non-traditional cool-weather meals that can expand your dining horizons and, maybe, add a few items to your family favourites list!
Take Soups, for instance…
We’ve all made and enjoyed Chicken Soup. In fact, for some, it’s a cool-weather staple. But have you tried other kinds of Chicken Soup? Like my Any-Day Asian Soup with added Chicken shreds? How about Chinese Hot and Sour Soup? Just stir in a drizzle of beaten Egg to make a spicy, cockle-warming Egg Drop Soup! Or classic French Canadian Split Pea Soup? Or Italian Minestrone? You only need a few simple ingredients for classic French Onion Soup, and it preps in under half an hour, including the time it takes to brown the Onions. Many of these hearty Soups are a meal in themselves!
Casseroles rule!
Mac and Cheese is just one entrée Casserole you can count on to satisfy cool-weather appetites. I immediately think of Lasagne (in all its many variations) as a standby supper at this time of year. If you don’t have the time to make it, you can get great frozen versions from your supermarket, or frozen food specialists such as M&M Markets. And don’t go feeling guilty about buying-in. You’re probably busy enough as it is without spending half the afternoon making a picky casserole.
Tuna and Noodle Casserole is another perennial favourite and it’s easy to make. When you add lots of the traditional veggies – Green Peas and Sweet Peppers – plus some small Broccoli Florets, you’ve got a really healthy crowd pleaser.
A Scalloped Potato Entrée consists of regular Scalloped Potatoes with added Ham or Bacon Chunks. You can even layer in some Onions for a Veggier dish. I usually do, anyway…
Tex Mex Chicken Tortilla Casserole is quickly becoming popular north of the Tex-Mex Belt. It’s essentially a spicy, really stiff chicken stew layered with corn tortillas and baked with cheese on top. If that sounds weird to you, just try it once and you’ll never think that again! There are lots of other Mexican and Tex-Mex Casseroles you can try. Think Beef and Rice, or this on-trend Chicken Quinoa Casserole.
DO stew about it!
There’s much more to ‘stews’ than just your classic Irish Stew or Chicken Stew. Much more! Think Boeuf Bourgignon, Beef Stroganoff, Hungarian Goulash, Cajun Jambalaya, Mom’s Chili, or a host of others.
I’ve been exploring the cuisine of India, lately, and am thoroughly enjoying revisiting the great Stews of the subcontinent: Aloo Gobi, Butter Chicken, Biryani, Tikka Masala and dozens of others. Just Google ‘stews of India’… Many of these are Vegetarian or Vegan, if that’s how you roll.
In fact, almost all major cuisines have Stews in their repertoires. Go exploring!
And that should be enough to keep you busy for a while…
I’ll be back in a few weeks, when winter hits us full-force, with even more cold-weather recipe suggestions!
~ Maggie J.