Snow is on the ground, your favorite holiday decorations are hanging in the halls, and the fireplace is burning bright. We all love these special moments in wintertime with our families. However many families get into a rut when it comes to dinner time. With all the hustle and bustle from the holidays, who has time to cook? Even after the holidays, the cold, dreary winter nights make you want to curl up in a ball and do nothing else. You pick up the phone to order pizza...again.
You don't have to sacrifice healthy homemade dinners just because of the season. There are countless delicious, hearty and easy-to-make dinners that are perfect for any family. Weeknight dinners are a breeze when you plan ahead. These easy, delicious and affordable meals from are perfect for those chilly winter nights.
Ramen Noodles
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Making ramen from scratch is a very elaborate affair, which makes it perfect for a snowed-in winter time recipe. This recipe from delish tells you step by step how to tackle this complicated dish. While you won't be making your own noodles, you do learn that there are many different components for the base and toppings, including dashi, tare, nitamago and chashu. Your patience with this recipe will be rewarded so don’t fear how long it takes. This recipe will yield four servings and can take four hours to make depending on your skill level. You will also be able to manipulate the recipe to feature your favorite ramen toppings.
Feast of Crab Legs
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Crab legs are one of the easiest things to make at home. Even the most novice of cooks can easily cook up some delicious and perfect crab legs, which makes it great for making with the whole family. Skip the expensive restaurant mark-ups and save this one for a cold winter night. There are three different popular methods for cooking crab legs: oven broiling, steaming, and boiling. This recipe will teach how to cook crab legs all three ways and discusses the pros and cons of each one. It will also help you to learn what kind of crab legs you should buy. There are usually two kinds: snow crab legs or King crab legs. Snow crab legs are better if you are on a budget.
Spicy Jambalaya
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Would it be a winter recipe cook book if we didn't mention jambalaya? You might not think this dish is an easy one, but these flavorful versions are easy for all skill levels. Spicy jambalaya with chicken and andouille sausage is our absolute favorite and is simple to create. It only takes 20 minutes to prep and 40 minutes to cook, so is perfect if you are having a busy school night and need to whip up something fast. It can serve up to six people as well so perfect for a big family. There are also versions you can make that are a bit lighter on the heat factor, so it's tastier for some of the younger ones in your family.
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
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Do you have family members that are dairy free, but absolutely love a good creamy soup? Look no further than this pumpkin soup recipe by Cookie and Kate. It uses very basic, clean ingredients to not only give you a healthy meal but a satisfying one as well. The total cooking time is about an hour and 25 minutes, with only 15 minutes being used for prepping. It yields 4 bowls or 6 cups so is perfect for a family dinner. It also saves well in the refrigerator should you not eat is all the first day. Pair it with a sandwich or salad and you'll be set.
Slow Cooked Ribs
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Some might have the impression that ribs are one of those dishes that should be left to the “pit masters” — it’s just not true. Baking ribs in the oven or in a slow cooker is seriously easy, and the perfect hearty dish for a cold winter night. All you need is some time — 95 percent of the recipe time is sitting back and relaxing waiting while the ribs bake. With only a few ingredients as well, this one is fast to whip up yet incredibly filling for a big family. If you have teen boys, this is the one you want to try. Leftovers can be used to create pulled pork sandwiches which taste just as great.
Your Mother's Meatloaf
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Do you remember your mom or grandma making meatloaf during the winter months? Of course you do! It's one of the go-to recipes for families everywhere. This easy meatloaf recipe is loaded with flavor and is pretty simple to make. Ground beef is mixed with bread crumbs, onions, and parsley to put together this simple yet filling dish. Many will serve this alongside a starch like mac & cheese or mashed potatoes, in addition to a veggie like broccoli or carrots, to create the full meal. There are some common problems that people run into when making meatloaf, so make sure you follow directions carefully. Over mixing will cause your meatloaf to become dense making it seem tough and not tender. Adding too much liquid or not allowing the meat to rest can result in the meatloaf falling apart as well.
Creamy Chicken Pasta
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This recipe is perfect all year-round, but it hits a little different when there is snow covering the ground. Warm up with a big bowl of your favorite comfort food – pasta! Tender pasta and chicken coated in a rich creamy and incredibly flavorful sauce with so much garlic – the aroma alone will have you melting. This is a dish you can pass on to your kids because it is so simple to make, yet is ready to impress. It satisfies even the pickiest of eaters as well, because who can say no to pasta and chicken? They are staples in anyone’s home. You can also add ingredients to make it perfect for your family. For example, try it with broccoli or peas. You can also pair it perfectly with a piece of warm toasted garlic bread.
Cold, dreary winter nights are no excuse to order pizza for a week straight. Try out these fun, easy, hearty recipes to get your family eating healthy at home during the cold winter months. They will be perfect for your little toddlers all the way up to your hungry growing teenager. We know that you will love them, too.