BY CHRISTELLE TEMPLE
It’s about this time of year when I am dying for some sunshine — 70-degree weather with a light breeze, the ability to walk out with a light coat, and to see the flowers come in bloom. But, to cherish the present is more important than waiting for the future. There is about one more month of winter and what better way is there to spend your time than making a warm meal to eat with some fuzzy socks on and your favorite reality TV show. Here are a few soups and stews for the soul to end your winter on a delicious note.
- Beef stew! A classic. The perfect beef stew will take you back to being a kid and playing outside on a snow day to come inside completely freezing and hungry. Walking inside and smelling the savory aroma of beef, potatoes, carrots, celery covered in thick gravy sauce with some bread on the side is the eptiome of comfort.
- Broccoli cheddar soup. One of my personal favorites from Panera. In a cup, bread bowl, or straight out of the pot this is the perfect cheesy comfort soup to eat on a cold winter day. A tip for those who love cooking: I use heavy whipping cream and sour cream in my soup, and trust me, it makes it the perfect creamy consistency.
- Stuffed pepper soup. An amazing blend of spices, peppers, beef, cheese and rice makes for the easiest blend of happiness in a bowl. Stuffed pepper soup is good on the stove and in the Crock Pot. Leaving a couple ingredients in the slow cooker to come home and have your mouth instantly watering when you smell it in the air makes you excited to sit down to dinner.
- Potato soup. Not only is this a perfect comfort meal, it is also a perfect way to add in some minerals to your diet. Potato soup has iron, manganese, magnesium, copper and potassium. One potato has 37% of the daily value for Vitamin C, an important immunesupporting antioxidant. Who’s to say potatoes can’t be your best friend?
- A classic that no one can forget — tomato soup (with grilled cheese, please). If you have not served yourself this timeless meal yet this winter you are truly missing out. Tomato soup with grilled cheese is one of the best savory, salty things to eat during the cold season.
CHRISTELLE TEMPLE is a WVU honors sophomore. She contributes a weekly column on health, fitness and motivation. Follow her on Instagram @ellesbells2. Contact her at Newsroom@DominionPost.com.
