5 Hearty and Quick Winter Recipes

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There are plenty of people here in Vermont who relish the freezing temperatures and piles of snow that come during the heart of winter. Our editorial director, Lisa, feverishly heads to the slopes every chance she gets. Our food editor, Jessie, shovels snow off the pond behind her house so she and her husband can play ice hockey until sundown. Sure, I like a breath of fresh cold air now and then, but I don’t embrace the snow and cold like others do. While my friends are swooshing down the mountain, I’d rather be in the kitchen, bundled in my most comfortable sweatshirt, looking for new recipes to try.

Hibernating for the winter is nice, especially when I have a tasty recipe in store. One night, I’ll cozy up to a bowl of Turkey & Squash Soup with tender turkey and sweet chunks of butternut squash. The next, I’ll have warm and gooey baked gnocchi with chard and white beans. My preferred winter activity of cooking hearty fare could easily get me into trouble weight-wise, but I’m careful to choose dishes that are satisfying and low-calorie. The recipes that follow are all under 360 calories and packed with sources of lean protein and fiber-rich vegetables. When the weather warms up, I look forward to spending more time outdoors. But in the meantime, go ahead and bring on the snow and cold weather. I’ll be happy keeping warm in the kitchen.