5 Easy Winter Recipes

These 5 easy winter recipes are all about keeping the spirit of the season in each and every bite. Its important to emphasize fresh ingredients for the time of year, especially during the winter. Depending on where you live, winter can get a tad chilly. These winter recipes can warm you up!

Pumpkin Pecan Biscotti

You Will Need:

• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk flour, white sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger in a large bowl.
3. Beat the eggs with pumpkin puree and vanilla extract; stir in pecans.
4. Pour in dry ingredients, make a stiff dough. Divide the dough in half, and form each half into a log. Place onto baking sheet.
5. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.
6. Cool for five minutes; slice the logs into individual cookies 1/2-inch thick. Put back onto baking sheet.
7. Bake about eight minutes; repeat on other side. Let cool on wire racks and your winter will get a lot warmer!

Ham and Potato Soup

You Will Need:

• 3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• 1/3 cup diced celery
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 3/4 cup diced cooked ham
• 3 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 cups milk

1. Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about ten to fifteen minutes.
2. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
3. Melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about one minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, four to five  minutes.
4. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. This makes for a great winter recipe.

Marshmallow Apple Crisp

You Will Need:

• 8 large Granny Smith apples, cored and sliced
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Mix the apple slices, white sugar, 2 1/2 tablespoons of flour, one teaspoon of cinnamon together until thoroughly combined. Spread out on baking dish.
3. Mix the melted butter with nutmeg and two teaspoons of cinnamon; stir in the brown sugar, oats, one cup of flour, and mini marshmallows until thoroughly combined.
4. Spread the marshmallow topping evenly over the apples.
5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes and be sure to serve with other favorite winter recipes.

Hot Cocoa

You Will Need:

• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup baking cocoa
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 cups milk
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• mini marshmallows

1. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa and salt.
2. Stir in milk and water.
3. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through. Remove from the heat; stir in extracts. This is great for the winter, by a window.

Cranberry Rice

You Will Need:

• 2/3 cup uncooked brown rice
• 1/1/2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons canned jellied cranberry sauce
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans

1. Bring the brown rice and 1 1/2 cup of water to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, 45 to 50 minutes.
3. Mash the cranberry sauce in a small bowl with a fork, and stir the sauce into the brown rice. Cover, and let steam for five minutes.
4. Place the dried cranberries into a microwave-safe bowl, and cook about 30 seconds.
5. Stir the cranberries into the rice and let this winter recipe fill you up!