Wintertime means comfort foods. But many of those comfort foods can be time-consuming. Sometimes you really just need something you can whip up real quick, but that’s hearty and warming. Here are some winter dinner ideas that you can do on the fly. They’ll taste great and won’t take you long to cook.

Quick and Creamy Chicken Stew

¾ lb small red potatoes (about 8), quartered
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 (10 3/4 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
¼ cup zesty Italian salad dressing
2 cups frozen stew vegetables
½ cup sour cream Continue reading →

Winter stews do not have to involve meat to be rich and warming. Look for local produce if possible. Root vegetables (onions, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas) are good choices. Cabbage, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, and various greens like kale are in season in winter. Here are some recipes for healthful, satisfying winter vegetable stews using local vegetables. Continue reading →

Few things keep the chill away like a hot drink in the wintertime. There are traditional wintertime drinks, like tea and hot chocolate, but also more unusual ones like pumpkin lattes.

Here are some ideas and recipes for drinks to keep you warm this winter:

Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Did you know you could make lattes in your crockpot? Put the ingredients in the crockpot, turn it on, and visit with friends and family while the hot drink makes itself. This recipe makes 4 servings.

Ingredients

4 cups 2% milk
1/4 cup pureed or canned pumpkin
1/4 cup sugar (use brown sugar for a richer flavor)
1/4 cup vanilla extract (if this seems like a lot – and it is – you can use the less expensive imitation vanilla flavor with good results) Continue reading →