There’s nothing quite like a hot meal on a cold day. Which is why today, I’m going to share 3 of my favorite winter recipes with you.

These are simple to make and will make the whole family happy.

Cabbage and Pork Soup

This is an incredibly healthy and delicious meal. Best of all it takes just minutes to prepare. The following recipe is good to serve 4 people a full and complete meal. 

Prep Time: 25 Minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Clean Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 medium size cabbage (savoy or white)

300 grams of smoked pork belly/bacon

1 medium size carrot

1 onion

3 cloves

8 cups clear chicken stock

1 tablespoon of butter

Salt and pepper

4 slices of bread

Instructions:

• Slice the cabbage in half. Then, slice each half in half again, creating quarters. Put the quarters in a pan and fill it to the top with cold water. Then put it on the stove and heat it until it boils. This is called blanching the cabbage.

• When cabbage is blanched, take out and cut lengthwise into slices.

• Slice the onion in half. In one half, insert 3 whole cloves. Cut the other half in half, creating 2 quarters.

• Slice the carrot into 1-2 cm pieces

• Cut the bacon/pork belly into 1-2 inch cubes

• Put 1 tbsp of butter into a large soup pot. Heat on medium

• When butter starts to pop, put in carrots and 2 onion quarters. Let cook 10-20 seconds.

• Add half of the cabbage.

• Layer the bacon/pork belly around the cabbage “bed”.

• Add the onion half with the cloves and cover with the rest of the cabbage.

• Pour in chicken stock

• Cover and simmer for 1:15

• Preheat oven to 375 F

• Put 4 slices of artisan bread on a flat oven pan and cook for 10 minutes (no oil needed)

• Serve full bowl of soup with toasted bread soaked in the broth.

Simple Minestrone Soup

Minestrone soup was invented in Italy around 1875. The word is thought to come from a combination of two words. Loosely translated, this means “to remedy”. In other words, this is a hot, very healthy soup that will keep your immune system up and running strong.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Clean Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 small onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 zuccini

2 celery stocks

2 medium potatoes

1 carrot, julienne

4 cups vegetable broth

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of cannellini beans

Oregano

Basil

Time

Salt and pepper

Instructions:

• Heat oil in a large pot in medium heat.

• Add onion and garlic and sauté for a 3-4 minutes.

• Add zucchini and celery.

• Add vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, beans.

• Add carrots and potatoes.

• Add spices.

• Stir everything thoroughly and then add 3 cups of hot water (add more or less water based on the consistency you want.

• Bring to a boil and then continue cooking over medium-low heat for 45 minutes.

French Onion Soup

French Onion Soup is a classic dish that is absolutely perfect for the winter season. The onions combined with the beef stock gives it an absolutely delicious, sweet taste. And topping with toasted bread and cheese makes a dish that is practically to die for. All prepped and ready in under an hour!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Clean Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

5 yellow/white onions

2 tbsp butter

1 tspn grapeseed oil

1 glass dry white wine

32 oz organic beef stock

1 tbsp flour

Thyme, rosemary, bay leaf

White cheese to taste

1 slice of robust bread

Instructions

• Mince onions

• Put pan on medium heat, add both butter and grapeseed oil

• Add all the onions (it should fill the pot almost to the top)

• Cook onions for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 or so. By the end, the consistency should be a light brown (caramelized)

• Add the white wine to deglaze the bottom of the pan

• Add flour, mix well and cook for 1 minute

• Add beef stock

• Add herbs

• Let the soup simmer for about 20 minutes

• Preheat oven to 375

• Cook sliced bread for 10 minutes

• Add salt and pepper to soup to taste

• Fill a bowl to the top with soup. Add the toasted bread. Cover generously with cheese.

• Put the bowl in the oven on broil for 2 minutes (after oven is hot)

Closing Thoughts

As you can see these recipes are easy, cheap, and a lot of fun. Not to mention they’re healthy and delicious enough to please even the pickiest eaters. Try them out and leave us a comment letting us know which one you like the most.