The best winter meals are all about comfort and fabulous flavour. Hazelview Properties has some delicious and cozy winter meals to share with you. Warm up with them this season.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Traditional lasagna is great, but when winter rolls around this beautiful and creamy Butternut Squash Lasagna may make you feel even more cozy and comforted. To make it, preheat the oven 425°F. Divide a peeled and cubed butternut squash into 2 baking pans and toss the cubes with olive oil. Bake the squash until tender (about 20 minutes). Cook lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Meanwhile, make the herby bechamel sauce. Start by bringing milk and rosemary to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer the mixture for 10 minutes before straining. Saute garlic in butter, stir in some flour and season with salt and pepper. Add in the rosemary milk. Boil and stir until it thickens. Reserve one cup of the herbed bechamel and add the squash to the remaining sauce. Layer the reserved sauce with cooked noodles, the squash mixture, and grated fontina and Parmesan cheese. Beat some heavy cream until peaks form and spread it on top. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Your apartment will smell incredible.
Chicken Enchiladas
If the winter chill is getting you down, bake up a batch of these Chicken Enchiladas. To make them, brown boneless, skinless chicken breast in a little oil. Season with cumin, garlic and chili powder. Remove the chicken from the pan and saute onion and garlic in the drippings. Add corn, chiles and canned tomatoes. Shred the chicken and return it to the pan. Dust the whole mixture with flour to set it. Fill corn tortillas with canned enchilada sauce and the chicken mixture. Arrange evenly in a baking dish, then top them with cheese and more sauce and bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Beef Stew
A pot of piping hot Beef Stew simmering on the stove on a cold winter day is the definition of cozy. It’s super hearty and surprisingly easy to make. To prepare it, coat cubes of boneless beef with flour, salt and pepper. Brown the beef in butter or oil over medium heat, then remove it from the pot. Add more butter, plus celery and onion. Add in tomato paste, dry red wine and return the beef to the pot. Add potatoes, carrots, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, beef broth and Worcestershire. Cover and braise in your oven for 45 minutes at 350°F. Add in cocktail onions and braise for another 15 minutes. Cook the stew, uncovered, for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove te parsley, thyme and bay leaves before serving.
Spaghetti and Beet Balls
Spaghetti and Beet Balls is a vegan-friendly way to enjoy a cozy and hearty meal this winter. Make the beet balls by blending walnuts into a flour. Saute some onions in oil over medium heat, add minced garlic, carrots and a little water. Add in nutritional yeast, oregano, paprika, chili powder, ground fennel, chipotle and a pinch of salt. Blend some peeled and grated beets in your food processor with cooked rice, Dijon mustard and tahini until you form a paste. Add in the carrot mixture and 1 tbsp of ground flax mixed with 3 tbsp warm water. Finally, add the walnuts and combine. Form balls with the mixture and arrange on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for approximately 25 minutes as you prepare the pasta according to the package directions. Serve the cooked beet balls on top of your pasta with store-bought pasta sauce.
Hazelview Properties hopes that these delicious winter recipes keep you feeling warm and cozy all season long.
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