Recipes: Winter Weather Recipes to Make at Home

Bacon and Crab Chowder

Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

Serves four

Ingredients:

A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

6 slices bacon, chopped

2 Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch dice

1 large onion, chopped

4 celery ribs from the heart with leaves, finely chopped

½ red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 fresh or dried bay leaf

Salt and freshly ground pepper

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken broth

6 cups whole milk

12 ounces lump crabmeat, from the seafood counter

3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme

1 tablespoon seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay brand (a palmful)

3 tablespoons dry sherry

4 tablespoons snipped chives

Oyster crackers

Hot sauce

Preparation

Put a medium pot over medium-high heat, then add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and the bacon and cook until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Pour off a little of the bacon fat, leaving a thin, even layer. Add the potatoes, onion, celery, bell pepper and bay leaf to the pot, season with salt and pepper and cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add the milk, cover the pot and bring to a simmer.

Run your fingers through the crabmeat to check for shell bits, then combine it with the thyme and seafood seasoning. Uncover the pot, stir in the crabmeat and simmer for 6-7 minutes, until the potatoes are just fork-tender and the soup has thickened. Finish the chowder with the sherry and serve with the crispy bacon, chives, oyster crackers and hot sauce.

Panzanella Stoup

Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

Serves four

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling on stoup at the table

3 green or yellow bell peppers, diced into bite-size chunks

1 large softball-size onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped

¼ cup good quality balsamic vinegar (eyeball it)

1 quart chicken stock

1 can crushed tomatoes (28 ounces)

4 cups stale crusty bread, torn or chopped (half a loaf)

Salt and black pepper

1 cup basil leaves (about 20), torn