Brace yourselves -- winter is coming. With that said, you don't have to suffer because of the cold or snow. In fact, there are ways in which you can eat rather comfortably and hopefully stay warm and healthy while you're at it. All of these ingredients are simple, versatile, delicious, and nutritious as well. Included are also recommendations on how to use said ingredients to their maximum potential.
1. Ginger
Ginger is piquant, spicy, and sweet. As a result, it goes well in soup, teas, savory dishes such as curry and stir fry, and rich vegetables such as squash. Ginger root is also extremely rich in B vitamins, manganese, and iron.
2. Garlic
Already renowned for its antiviral properties, garlic is a fine addition to dishes needing a pungent and rich aroma profile, such as sauces, soups, meats, and vegetables
3. Lemon and lime
Obviously rich in Vitamin C, lemon and lime are fine additions to shellfish and fishes such as salmon, tuna, cod, or snapper.
4. Soy sauce
A versatile ingredient used in East Asian cooking, soy sauce is rich and salty and translates these properties well into a stir-fry, vegetables, meat, and seafood, or as a condiment. Try it in a beef-based soup.
5. Chili peppers
One of my favorite ingredients, chilis can be used fresh, dried, flaked, or as a powder. The burning sensation will increase your metabolism, causing your body temperature to rise as well.
6. Broth
Hot broth made from bones, vegetables, or bullion are not only a great soup base, but can be sipped as-is as a rich, flavorful, and warming drink. In fact, NFL players sip broth and hot chocolate on the sidelines as one way to keep warm in cold weather.
7. Tea
No shocker here. Using the same principle as broth, hot tea will elevate your body temperature and is simply nice to sip on during cold times.
8. Black pepper
Another piquant and spicy ingredient, smoky black pepper is a fine addition to any dish requiring an extra kick.
9. Potatoes or sweet potatoes roasted by the fire
Sure, they are rich in starch and minerals, but these foods provide more of a psychological boost as a savory and more complex alternative to marshmallows.
10. Bay leaves
Once again, an ingredient that will add to the flavor of savory foods such as meats, beans, and roasted vegetables. It's the stuff found in Chipotle's beans and proteins.
11. Peppercorns
Different from the black pepper found in shakers, peppercorns are common in Southern Chinese cooking due to their spicy and mouth-numbing properties.
12. Anything before sleep or rest.
The digestion of food is an energy-dependent process, one in which heat is given off as a waste product. Use this same heat to keep yourself warm during passive states.
