Winter is not my favorite.
And I don’t even wait until the “official start of winter” to be gloomy about it. Winter, for me, starts as soon as all the leaves are off the trees. Which is now. And it’s cold and already dark when we get home from work and I just don’t like it.
Sometimes the snow makes it better. A little prettier, for a day or two. But then it just gets messy and gross.
Honestly, there are only a few good things about winter in my book:
1. Holiday time with family and friends
2. Boots, scarves, cute hats.
3. Citrus fruit.
4. Cranberries.
5. ….and now that I’m hooked, the return of Downton Abbey.
When I get home to complete darkness and it’s 5:45, all I want to do is get in my pajamas, pour a bowl of cereal, and get into bed. Winter makes me lazy. It’s so tempting to not do anything that I really have to fight my way through the season.
And that’s why I’m so thankful for citrus fruit and cranberries in the middle of winter. When most foods are heavy and covered with gravy, they bring a bright flavor and lightness to an otherwise dark time of year.
One of my favorite ways to use cranberries is to make my own cranberry sauce. But I don’t use this at the Thanksgiving table. This one gets swirled into yogurt or spooned on ice cream or mixed into grain salads.
If you’re a fan of plain yogurt (like me), but get into ruts with your mix-ins (like me), here’s a new one to try. The cranberries and oranges break down into a thick, syrupy sauce that’s perfect to mix in with your yogurt for breakfast, snack, or dessert. I use honey as the sweetener, but it’s also insanely good with maple syrup! Buddy the Elf would definitely approve.
A new spin on a yogurt parfait, this vanilla-speckled yogurt and ruby red cranberry swirl is a fun new way to start your day. Or, you can layer in some poundcake and freshly made whipped cream and make it a show-stopping holiday dessert.