A Cure for the Brrrrr

Forgive me for stating the obvious here guys but MAN it is insanely cold out there. 

Frostbite warnings, -20 wind chill factors... Yikes. 

So, what's a warm-blooded creature to do when faced with life in the arctic tundra? 

First of all, you have to start the day right.

That kid's face... Kinda creepy, no? 

Here... try this cereal ... trust me... 

Despite the creepy kiddo on the box, Farina is in fact delicious and high in iron. Also, an excellent vessel for brown sugar and cinnamon. 

Ok, now that we are warmed from the inside - it's time to break out the big guns. 

Bread machine. 

Crock Pot. 

First up: Any Bean (or pea) Soup

1 small onion chopped

2-3 stalks celery chopped

2 medium carrots chopped

2 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

1 green pepper seeded and chopped

4 cups low fat, low salt chicken stock

1 bag dried beans or peas

2-3 dried bay leaves

1 cup ham chopped

Onion powder

Garlic powder 

Pepper

Throw everything into the crock pot and cook 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. 

For pea soup, take out the bay leaves and ham and purée with an immersion blender. Then add back the ham and serve. 

And what to have with soup?

Whole Wheat Bread 

2 cups water

2 1/4 tsp salt

4 tbs melted butter

3 tbs molasses

1 cup old fashioned oats

2 cups bread flour

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

2 1/4 tsp yeast 

Put all ingredients into bread machine per the machine instructions. Run machine on "Dough" cycle. 

When complete, divide dough in half and move to 2 greased bread pans. Allow to rise until dough fills pan then bake 40 minutes at 400 degrees. 

Ta-da! 

Now let us get under a blanket and await spring.