photo by Ross Warren

The December snow has fallen and the chill in the air always sends me searching my pantry for some quality comfort food. My philosophy is: the cheesier, the starchier, the better. Whether it’s a hearty stew, soul-warming soup, or filling casserole, winter calls for food that engulfs the tummy like a soft, fleece blanket. Who cares if that also means a few extra-trips to the gym. That’s what cable-knit sweaters are for.

Speaking of things I love about winter, I spent last weekend in Killington, Vermont, with a group of close friends on our annual ski trip. Temperatures skirted between cold and freezing, but we stayed warm on the slopes knowing we had a few good meals to come home to. Our meal on Saturday night, a creamy Vodka Sauce, was the ideal in comfort food. We paired it with buttery garlic bread and a lush, green salad (to even things out, of course). Every frost-bitten nose in the room was beaming with a full belly by the end of the night.