I heard it, too. The whispers that we would get hit with another storm beginning last night. Cabin fever is setting in, so I thought today, we’d try to battle it by recommending a few good activities you can do inside and out.

To keep you warm on another cold day, I’m also including a good recipe from allrecipes.com.  I figure if Mother Nature’s going to keep us cooped up anyway, we may as well fight back with good food!

Stay warm this weekend and let us know if you liked the recipe and if the activities helped keep cabin fever at bay for another day.

Indoor Activities:

• Build a fort – grab some blankets and get to building. Heat up some marshmallows and chocolate in the microwave and make indoor s’mores. They may not have the magic of the fire, but your kids will still smile when they take a bite.
• Cook – kids love to get their hands into new activities. Have them help plan the menu, as well as make the food. It will definitely be messy, but it should help keep them entertained for another hour.  And, we know how precious 60 minutes can be!

Outdoor Activities:

• Snow Painting – take a few water bottles with squirt tops and pour food coloring into the bottle. That’s all it takes. Let the kids go out and paint the snow!
• Sledding – a classic, and it’s great for getting the kids (and parents) a little exercise during the winter months.

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

3 bacon strips, diced

1 small onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon pepper

3 cups chicken broth

2 large baked potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 cup half-and-half cream

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Shredded Cheddar cheese

Minced fresh parsley

Preparation Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Set bacon aside. Saute onion and garlic in the drippings until tender. Stir in flour, salt, basil and pepper; mix well. Gradually add broth. Bring to boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cream and hot pepper sauce; heat through but do not boil. Garnish with bacon, cheese and parsley.

I heard on the news today that we’ve received the same amount of snow already this winter that we would normally receive in an entire season!

The one good thing about snowy days is that I get in the mood to bake and cook, so this winter has provided me with plenty of opportunities to do just that!  Today – as local schools are closed again and all community activities are being cancelled – I thought it would be fitting to share one of my favorite recipes to make when the snow starts piling up.

Making a hearty meal and then spending time with my family, watching a good movie or playing games, helps brighten my spirits.  If we’re really lucky, it might get warm enough for us to hit the nearby sledding hill.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and some quality family time, too.

Thick and Hearty Chili

Ingredients:

2 lb. ground beef, browned

2, 15-oz. cans chili beans

2, 15-oz. cans tomato sauce

2, 15-oz. cans diced tomatoes

Onion

3 T. chili powder

Tabasco to taste

Directions:

Combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker before your day begins, and it’s ready to eat at supper time!

Buttery Corn Bread

Ingredients:

2/3 cup butter or margarine softened (I use butter)

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 2/3 cup milk

2 1/3 cup all purpose flour

1 cup cornmeal

4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar, Combine eggs, and milk. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with egg mixture.

Pour into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees F for about 22-27 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cut into squares; serve warm.

Honey Butter

Ingredients:

¾ c. butter, softened

¼ c. honey

Directions:

Cream butter and honey.

These recipes were submitted by one of our Latham dealers in Everly, Iowa. Every Christmas Eve, their family has soup night.  Here are a couple of their favorite soup recipes. Perfect on these cold winter nights.

Potato Cheese Soup

6-8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
2-3 carrots, sliced
1-2 celery stalks, sliced
1 small onion, chopped
1 pkg. (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 can (10 and 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
2 c. milk
salt and pepper to taste
crumbled bacon
green onion, diced
shredded cheddar cheese

Place potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion in large kettle, cover with water. Cook until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, in mixing bowl combine softened cream cheese, butter, and cream of chicken soup. Combine until smooth. Gradually add milk, salt and pepper. Before adding to vegetables, drain most of the water from kettle, depending how thick you prefer the soup. Add creamed mixture to the kettle and heat slowly. Before serving, I sprinkle each bowl with a little bacon, green onion and cheddar cheese.

White Chili

3 (15 oz.) cans of Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
2 and 1/2c. chopped, cooked chicken
1 c. chopped onion
1 and 1/2c. chopped red, green, or yellow pepper
2 jalapeno chili peppers, seeded and chopped (optional)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1 small can green chilis
3 and 1/2c. chicken broth
Shredded Monterrey Jack cheese (optional)

Saute the onion, garlic and cumin in 1-2 tbsp. oil. Add all ingredients and simmer 45 minutes to an hour.

Do you have any of your own soup recipes that “warm the heart”?  Share them with us in the comment box below!