111 winter recipes

A treasured memory of Christmas at Great-Aunt Elizabeth's house was a cookie that I never learned to eat in moderation. Although my mother warned me not to say anything, one of the first things I would say upon arrival was, "I'm hungry" hoping that these cookies would appear. Much to my delight they usually did, and in fact, began also to appear at Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and any other time we got together to celebrate.

A delicious make ahead mocha coffee drink mix. Perfect for those cool Autumn's and Winter mornings.

A tasty and savory stew made with millet, potatoes, carrots and mushrooms.

Ground turkey simmered with crushed tomatoes, red wine, capers, and fresh herbs piled over roasted spaghetti squash strands. A hearty low-fat, low-calorie dinner that doesn't skimp on flavor.

Award-winning almond shortbread cookies with a buttery dent filled with homemade butterscotch frosting and topped with chopped pistachios. A 1986 classic.

Roasted spaghetti squash tosses forked-out strands with toasted pine nuts, fresh sage, grated Parmesan, and a drizzle of olive oil. A low-carb side that stands in for pasta in a weeknight pinch.

Warm and tasty. Lamb, root vegetables and rice make this delicious fall or winter stew.

Fall off the bone lamb with sweet capsicum (bell pepper) and tomatoes. Stand a shank on top of a 'mountain' of garlic mash potato in a bowl; ladle bell peppers and soupy stock all around. Mop up with crusty bread

The 2nd place winner in the Chicago Tribune's 1996 Annual Holiday Cookie Contest, a simple brown-sugar shortbread from Sandra Petrille of Naperville, Illinois.

Ham is simmered with all these delicious vegetables and spices, which makes a delicious stew. Serve it with some roasted hot sweet potatoes. Delicious.

Penne with winter squash, leeks, and parmesan cooks everything in one pot with nutmeg and olive oil. Simple Italian pasta, sweet squash and savory cheese in every bite.

Sweet yams and winter squash baked until tender, then tossed with orange juice and maple syrup. Four-ingredient autumn side that leans on roasting and real maple for depth.

A hearty post-Thanksgiving chowder with butternut squash, celery root, savoy cabbage, rice, and leftover turkey in a silky pureed broth. Use up those holiday leftovers in 45 minutes flat.

Homemade frozen fruit cocktail mix with watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, grapes, and blueberries in an orange-lemonade syrup. Freeze in pint containers for up to 8 months of fresh fruit cups.

Winter squash baked with Spanish brown rice, fresh tomatoes, and red bell pepper in one dish. A simple vegetable casserole with just four ingredients.

Harvest cookies made with mashed winter squash, chopped dates, nutmeg, and cinnamon. A no-sugar-added drop cookie thats soft, spiced, and naturally sweet from the fruit.