Winter is a magical time. With the spirit of the holidays and then the new year, winter is a time for family, gratefulness, and new beginnings. It's also a fabulous time to be a foodie. While other seasons sometimes get more love for their produce, we think winter stands up to the best summer food activities. Get out your cozy socks and be inspired with this list of 50 activities for any foodie to keep busy in the winter.
Bake Holiday Cookies
Try your hand at making classic holiday cookies like gingerbread, sugar cookies, or snickerdoodles. Or better yet - bake some of the world's most famous Christmas cookies from around the world.
Host a Winter Potluck with Everyone's Favorite Stew
Winter is for stew, but with so many family recipes no two are ever the same. Invite friends over for a potluck dinner with everyone bringing their favorite family stew to taste and enjoy.
Make a Custom Hot Chocolate Recipe
Experiment with different hot chocolate recipes and toppings. Better yet, make a hot chocolate bar with the kids and watch holiday movies with your custom creation!
Plan a Winter Garden
If you think gardening is just for summer, think again. Enjoying a four season garden is easier than you think and more rewarding than you could ever know. During the cold weather produce like carrots, cabbages, lettuces and more - thrive. Use this season to plan, and next year you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. The Year Round Vegetable Gardener is a fabulous book our team swears by.
Roast Chestnuts
Most of The Chef & The Dish team admits they don't really love chestnuts, but everyone loves the smell and tradition. Enjoy the classic winter treat, turn on the oven and bake up some of this winter classic for the family. It's a fun activity for the family and your house will smell amazing to boot.
Craft Your Own Soon-to-be-Famous Soup
Warm up with a hearty bowl of homemade soup, such as butternut squash or hearty minestrone. Look up a new recipe, mix and match two different kinds, or better yet - experiment with flavors until you have your own signature soup creation!
Make Mulled Wine
The smell of spiced wine simmering on the stove is one of our favorite smells of the holidays. Make a batch of mulled wine with spices like cinnamon and cloves. It's the perfect drink to sip on cozied up by the fire or to share with friends!
Visit a Winter Farmers Market
Farmers markets aren't just for the warmer months! Winter farmers markets are filled with different produce and are absolutely a reason to go out and explore. Discover seasonal produce and let it inspire your cooking adventures for the week!
Make Fondue
Perhaps it was the cold winters in Switzerland that inspired this warm cheese dip. Whatever it is, we're certainly thankful. There's little more fun than setting up a fondue night with friends. Experiment with different types of cheese, broth and chocolate fondues - and set up a variety of breads, meats, vegetables and fruits.
Bake a Pie
There isn't much that makes the family happier when it's cold outside than the smell of a pie baking in the oven. Bake up a comforting winter treat, like apple, pecan, or sweet potato pie. Cozy and delicious - now that's a winter win win!
Make Homemade Marshmallows
Elevate your hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows. They're surprisingly easy to make at home, and once you have a homemade marshmallow, you'll never buy store bought again. Feel free to experiment with flavors as well, such as peppermint, salted caramel, or butterscotch!
Create a Winter Charcuterie Board
Each season offers such a variety of flavor and produce. Celebrate the cozy and assemble a cheese and charcuterie platter with seasonal offerings. Add cinnamon scented dried fruits, hearty spiced chutneys for your cheeses and interesting pates.
Bake a Fresh Loaf of Bread
There's nothing more rewarding than baking a loaf of bread in the heart of winter. Serve it with freshly made butter for bonus points. Sourdough, paratha, focaccia, and more await.
Prepare a Winter Salad
There are plenty of seasonal salad greens perfect for wintertime. Use winter greens like kale, chard, or rapini to make a hearty salad. Pair with seasonal fruits like pomegranate, pear, or lemon and round it out with a maple vinaigrette!
Experiment with Winter Inspired Cocktails
Experiment with cocktails featuring winter flavors like cranberry, pumpkin, sweet potato and apple. Need some inspiration? Check out these popular holiday cockatil recipes from Chef Gason. Sweet Potato Sparkler, Pumpkin Bourbon Sour, & Rosemary Infused Cranberry Punch here we come!
Make a English Roast
Make a traditional Sunday Roast with yorkshire puddings and all the fixings. It's the perfect way to spend a cozy Sunday cooking and take your Sunday Supper to the next level - with a meal the whole family will love.
Brew Your Own Beer
Consider this your at-home tasty winter science experiment. Start a home-brewing project and craft your own winter beer. Whether you prefer IPAs, stouts, pilsners, or sours - the world is your oyster (or your pint as we should say!).
Grow a Winter Herb Garden
Don't let the cold weather stunt your gardening projects! Bring the fresh herbs inside and enjoy fresh, winter seasoning.
Plan a Winter BBQ
Just because it's snowing outside doesn't mean you can't use the grill. In fact, it's quite fun to dodge outside in the snow to flip the sausages. Invite some friends over and plan a winter BBQ! Grill up winter favorites like ribs or barbecue chicken.
Roast Parsnips
When was the last time you had roasted parsnips? We just love them. They taste like candy, but they're healthy for you! Try roasting winter vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, and parsnips.
Experiment with Beans
Working with dried beans can take some time, but once you taste the difference between made-from-scratch and canned, you'll never go back. This super healthy ingredient is a staple food for most of the world and some of the best recipes include beans. From Mexican refried beans to Brazil's Feijoada, there is so much to explore.
Learn to Make Pasta
There's not a better time of the year than winter to stay inside and make a day of a cooking project . This winter, try your hand at making homemade pasta or pierogies. Strap on the apron, turn on the playlist, pour up the wine, and have some fun in the kitchen - all with the reward of an amazing meal at the end!
Make Orange Marmalade
Surprising to many, January is the month for some of the best citrus. Cash in on this seasonal produce while it's on sale at the stores and learn how to make orange marmalade. Even better, preserve it so you can enjoy it for the rest of the year.
Cook a Winter Seafood Feast
If the winter blues are getting to you, bring summer into your kitchen. Cook up a seafood feast and bring the beach to you as you whip up a proper New England clam chowder or shrimp scampi. Pair with your favorite tropical cocktail to bring the (imaginary) summer sun in.
Make Cinnamon Rolls
We'll say it, there's no better breakfast than homemade cinnamon rolls. The smell and taste bring on the ultimate cozy factor. Share the foodie love with others and host a cozy winter brunch with favorites like cinnamon rolls and quiche for the savory lovers.
Make a Winter Inspired Smoothie
Blend seasonal fruits and vegetables into nutritious smoothies. Swap the banana for apples and pair with almond butter, cinnamon, and cloves for the ultimate winter smoothie treat.
Visit a Winery with a Fireplace
Get the gang together, find your nearest winery, and go on the ultimate winter weekend adventure. Schedule a wine tasting and sample winter wines (say hello to big, bold reds!). Bonus if you can find a winery with a fireplace so you can tap into the ultimate cozy vibes.
Make Hungarian Desserts
There are few cultures that do dessert as well as Hungary and let's face it, there's nothing more comforting than warm apple strudel in winter. Strap on the apron and try your hand at a classic Hungarian dessert. Trust us, you'll be happy you did.
Organize a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
There's nothing better than a little friendly competition. Whether you're hoping to do this with the kids or indulge in a few libations and have fun with friends, get your decorating hat on and host a gingerbread house decorating contest. Up the stakes and have everyone throw in $5. Whoever wins get to keep the money (and the gingerbread house).
Make Edible Gifts
Oftentimes the best and most thoughtful gifts are those you make yourself. Make homemade food gifts like flavored oils, spice blends, pasta, pesto, empanadas or cookies. Package up with bows, hand out to your loved ones, and share the joy of food.
Host a Mediterranean Meze Night
Escape the cold. Close your eyes and pretend you're on the Greek islands! Nearly every cuisine has their version of shareable food and Greece's version, mezes, is up there with the best of them. Buy a bottle of ouzo, learn to make some of Greece's best meze dishes at home, and throw a dinner party like no other.
Learn to Make Sausage
Making your own sausage is surprisingly easy and winter is a great time to enjoy a hearty sausage and potato dinner. Experiment with sausage-making and create your own flavors. Try your own chorizo, kielbasa, bratwurst, and more!
Bake Scones
Winter is the best time to bake. Simply put, as opposed to summer, now the heat from the oven is a welcome enjoyment. It's also the perfect indoor activity that keeps you out of the harsh weather, without sacrificing fun. Make the perfect tea time sack and enjoy freshly baked scones. Pair with a piping hot cup of tea or coffee.
Experiment with Indian Spices
Did you know that garam masala, Indian cuisine's quintessential spice blend, literally translates to "warm spice mix"? Indian spices provide the perfect warmth and comforting flavors to a dish. Try your hand at making Butter Chicken, Vindaloo, and more at home.
Bake a Galette
If you're looking for a baking project that feels more sophisticated than cookies and brownies, allow us to introduce you to the fabulous world of galette. This French dessert is easier than pie, but is a similarly perfect vehicle for sweetened fruits. Beautiful, rustic, and perfectly paired with winter fruits like apples or pears.
Master Mac-n-Cheese
A good macaroni and cheese is extremely hard to come by. Overcooked noodles and bland cheese versions claiming to be the best, honestly we're rarely impressed. The best versions we've had have been prepared in our own kitchen. Since our team generally cooks without recipes, each version is slightly different, but all include the following - al dente noodles, knowing how to make a proper béchamel using a blend of cheeses (our favorite includes Gruyere, Parmesan, Extra Sharp Cheddar and a little Monterey Jack) and topping with dots of butter and panko breadcrumbs. Spending the winter months to master mac-n-cheese is the perfect activity.
Try Your Hand at Candy Making
Winter is a wonderful time to learn how to make your own homemade candy. Try your hand at truffles, toffee or peanut brittle for a wonderful holiday gift to give to family and friends.
Cook a Cassoulet
Cassoulet is a type of rich, hearty, slow-cooked stew originating in Southern France. Featuring comforting beans and meats, this is the perfect warming meal after a day out in the snow.
Have a Winter Hike and Picnic
Pick your favorite trail and pack warm dishes and thermoses for a picnic in the snow. You'll have your very own winter wonderland adventure, cozy meal, and maybe a snowball fight or two along the way.
Plan a Winter Food Tour at Local Restaurants
With farm-to-table restaurants thriving more than ever, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find how many local eateries feature seasonal produce. Explore local restaurants and discover winter specialties. You just may find your new favorite dish!
Learn how to Make Ricotta
Winter is a fabulous time to experiment with new things. Ricotta is very simple to make. So simple, it's nearly impossible to screw up. Once you know how to make your own, you can use it in your other Italian favorite dishes.
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