The frigid winter air and snow are probably enough to make you want to curl up in bed and binge-watch your favourite show. Not to mention, if you're under a lockdown you're confined to your home regardless. 

If you’re ready to switch things up a bit, and by that we mean putting down the remote, cooking is the perfect winter activity. Experimenting with new recipes that comfort the soul and warm the bones is an amazing option for those cold winter months.

Try these tips to make the most of your winter cooking:

Make soups and stews

Delicious and comforting – soups and stews are a wintertime staple. When the wind is howling, and the temperature drops, is there anything better than curling up with a steaming hot bowl of goodness that warms your insides?

In addition to this, soups and stews are great for batch cooking. Make a pot of your favourite go-to and you’ll be able to freeze some for the nights you don’t feel like cooking.

Try GoodLife Kitchen’s Dijon beef stew on rice.

Batch cook your basics

Speaking of batch cooking, outside of soups and stews, it’s a great idea to batch cook some commonly used ingredients.

For example, roast some garlic or make a big pot of caramelized onions. You can toss these in soups, stews and use them for homemade pizzas and sandwiches as well. 

Plan a cozy night in

For snowy evenings in, get ready to have some fun. Instead of ordering takeout, try customizing your dinner for you and your loved ones.

Set up a baked potato bar – where everyone can load their potato with their favourite toppings. Or, try a build your own taco station to shake things up.  

Think frozen

Fresh vegetables can be hard to get in the wintertime – and if you do get them, they’re usually shipped from somewhere with a warmer climate south of the border.

This means important nutrients are lost during transportation – taking the ‘fresh’ out of fresh produce. Frozen vegetables are harvested and frozen within hours so they only lose about 10 percent of nutrients during the freezing process.

Using frozen vegetables in the winter months is a great option. 

Use the slow cooker

The slow cooker is a one-stop-shop for easy meals and perfect to use all winter long. Simply toss your ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and return home that evening to a house that smells delightful and a hearty meal ready to eat.

Try the GoodLife Kitchen’s slow cooker Thai green curry or slow cooker stuffed peppers.