Midwinter blues?

This is the time of year that gets people down. The holidays are over, resolutions are either broken or harder to keep, the weather is cold and clammy, and there is no Holiday on the horizon, and it jsut feels dark all the time.

I always liked this time of year, even though I am not a skier. I love to putter around my kitchen looking for ingredients that have been forgotten or need to be used and come up with hot meals that make people smile. Recently I made a Beef Stroganoff. Whoa, delicious. Instead of red wine, I discovered that in Russia they use cognac in their beef. It was outrageous. I am now testing it for our Dinnersmith kitchen.

We are also testing Hoisin pork and some great seafood chowders. Having the time, this time of year, to cook up a storm is warming and brings everyone to the table. Yesterday I made Chicken Kiev for my family. It is like a big chicken nugget rolled around our herb butter. I can't imagine that they wont love it.