winter in the kitchen

cabbage recipes Earlier this week, I was delighted to discover a delicious, simple recipe for roasted cabbage. I enjoy cooking and experimenting with the produce that appears in the weekly box of CSA, but sometimes I'm at a loss for what to do with certain vegetables. Especially in the wintertime, it can be a bit difficult to muster up the creativity to cook with yet another head of cabbage.

In my pursuit for healthy, vegetarian recipes that are also packed with flavor, I have come across food blogs that constantly inspire me in the kitchen. It also doesn't hurt to have a husband that loves cooking and is a master with spices. Below are a number of recipes that showcase the vegetables and fruits that are at their best in winter. For a (northern hemisphere) calendar of what's in season, visit Eat Seasonably. Do you have any favorite winter recipes?

Cabbage recipes 1. Roasted cabbage wedge with rice from Casa Yellow (above left) 2. Cabbage salad from (above middle) 3. Rustic cabbage and white bean soup from 101 Cookbooks (above right) 4. Braised red cabbage from The Wednesday Chef 5. Sauerkraut and reasons to love it

cauliflower recipes

Cauliflower recipes 1. Roasted cauliflower with cumin & coriander butter from Seven Spoons (above left) 2. Roasted cauliflower and cheddar soup from Two Peas (above middle) 3. Spicy cauliflower with sesame from 101 Cookbooks (above right)

brussels sprouts recipes

Brussels Sprouts recipes 1. Brussels sprouts with vinegar-glazed onions from Martha Stewart (above left) 2. Braised chestnuts and Brussels sprouts from Roost (above middle) 3. Roasted Brussels sprouts and cranberries with barley from Cookie + Kate (above right)

carrot recipes

Carrot recipes 1. Charred carrots with griddled goat cheese from Casa Yellow (above left) 2. Ginger-roasted carrots with miso dressing from My New Roots (above middle) 3. Roasted carrot soup from Food52 (above right)

celery root recipes

Celery root recipes 1. Winter salad from Local Milk (above left) 2. Potato and celery root gratin from Delish (above middle) 2. Creamy curried celery root soup from The Minimalist (above right)

pear recipes

Pear recipes 1. Poached pears from The Daily Serge (above left) 2. Pear soup from Sweet Paul (above middle) 3. Pear, ricotta, and honey tart from Bella Eats (above right) 4. Spiced pear muffins from The Kitchn

cooking with kumquats

The last week has been an experiment in cooking with kumquats. A colleague brought me a bag full of the small, oval fruit from Spain and it was actually the first time I had ever seen or tasted them. Kumquats are delicious when eaten raw with the skin, but also bring a burst of citrus to recipes, such as kumquat bread, kumquat marmalade, and kumquat spritzer. I think kumquats would also make a nice addition to a salad or when sauteed with tofu and veggies.

The numerous bowls filled with kumquats also have added a splash of color to my home, much needed in late January.

Weekend Links #10

I hope everyone enjoyed a festive holiday celebration. A Merry Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Navidad, Vrolijk Kerstfeest to all! Weekend Links is a collection of the interesting bits and pieces that I’ve come across on the streets and online. The weekly post is my chance to share with you a few things that I have enjoyed, in a list compiled during the weekend. I hope you enjoy them as well.

A few things I enjoyed over the last week: 1. Reading the article Why Making Dinner is a Good Idea (via something changed, image via Skånska Matupplevelser) 2. Finding two lists of the best articles and essays of 2010 (via spaceships) 3. Eating an ocean roll at The Sparrow Bakery in Bend, Oregon (image below) 4. Dancing to Sufjan Steven's Come On! Let's Boogie to the Elf Dance with my family on Christmas morning 5. Watching Thomas Balmes' documentary Babies, which follows four little ones in four different countries around the world