The snow began around noon on Friday, and even though it didn’t start sticking until about 5:30 or so, it came down pretty thick and fast. We went to dinner on Friday around 7, and the roads were coated. About an inch and a half (by John’s estimate) had fallen, and we arrived intentionally an hour early for our meal. At 10 when we left, we were the last table to leave (only by 10 minutes and only because we were waiting for our check – we weren’t keeping the staff there so we could linger). There were about 6 inches of snow on the ground. As you can see in the picture, the trees lining the sidewalks were bent over with the snow (we usually do not walk home via a romantic wonderland of branches). The latest news I’ve heard about the upcoming snow is upwards of 8 inches for Tuesday and Wednesday. Needless to say, not only have I been making lots of snow storm comfort foods, I’ve been thinking a lot about them too.
Friday night, we ate at Bibiana. More about that later. Saturday, we woke up to a world coated in snow. Clearly, oatmeal for breakfast was in order – steel cut, mixed with almond butter for flavor. Yum! For lunch, the cold demanded something spicy – kung pao tofu (recipe after the jump).
I’ve been keeping tofu around because it’s cheap ($1.79 at Trader Joe’s), it’s healthy, and it’s versatile. I don’t really use it as a meat substitute, because I kind of find fake meat gross. But, bland as it is in it’s regular state, it is pretty easily improved.
I like to marinate the tofu in soy sauce (and other spices) and then bake it for about 15 minutes a side. It becomes crispy and richly flavored. I’ve used it in summer rolls to great success and it makes the kung pao really tasty.
The next dish wasn’t necessarily due to snowpocalypse. John and I have been having movie nights during which we watch a classic film and eat food based on the setting of the movie. Saturday night, we watched Some Like It Hot. The movie begins in Chicago, features women getting drunk on Manhattans, and ends up in Florida. We made deep dish pizza (using this dough recipe), plantains as an appetizer, and drank Manhattans. Delish! And really perfect for a cold night.
Sunday continued to be cold, and the walks definitely weren’t as clear as they needed to be, so we continued to hunker down. We had laid in some special foods just in case Bibiana was closed on Friday, so we made Sauerkraut with Kielbasa and some roasted potatoes. Really good winter stuff.
Today, we both had a snow day, although John made the trek to work. I stayed home, and have basked in the break. Tonight’s meal is not really winter food, but it’s more like a wish for summer: fish tacos. But, I’m prepared for the rest of the week: pasta with salmon, lentils and rice, mushroom lasagna.
Winter food is important. Much of this is made from stuff I have on hand, but still, when you live in a city easily overwhelmed by snow in an unusually wet winter, you can avoid going stir crazy by thinking carefully about what and how to eat. I’m a little too restless to settle down and read, and I’ve already worked out once today (and plan a second go around later). So, staying warm, well-fed and mentally satisfied all come together in the kitchen.
