I have a love-hate relationship with snow. I love it when it is falling and the trees and ground are magically dusted white. I love the stillness and the quiet of falling snow. The snow causes stillness in us as well, so many of us are working or running around every day, and the snow gives us an excuse to pause. I often keep a brisket or some other comfort food in the freezer so I can take it out the night before a snowy day and cook a hearty meal for my family. I enjoy having to spend the entire day at home because I do not get many of them.
Then there is the other side to snow. The cleanup. The shoveling. The hazardous driving. The ugly dirty snow on the side of the streets. The cold wetness. We had a very treacherous snow day on the east coast this year right before Thanksgiving. Not one weatherman called it right. They told us it would be only about 3 inches. I happened to be out that day.
As I left to go home, I noticed the street I usually take home was at a standstill. I thought maybe there was an accident, so I patiently waited.. and waited. 2 1/2 hours later we began to move, slowly. Cars couldn’t get up even the smallest of hills. I prayed that would not happen to me. There were an unfathomable amount of jams in both directions because of people trying to go around the stuck cars. I tried to avoid the traffic, often ending up in even worse traffic. That evening a 10-minute ride home from the grocery store took me 3 1/2 hours. Everyone was blindsided by this storm and everyone driving was frustrated and scared.
If I hear snow in the forecast, I will be staying home.
That said, here is a recipe that you can make quickly on a snow day and have the rest of the day all to yourself. This butternut squash dish has all the right ingredients for an aromatic comfort food. The cumin and coriander add a savory deliciousness. The cayenne pepper packs in just the right amount of heat. This is a dish that is so easy to make and so yummy to eat.
This recipe is courtesy of Food and Wine and will serve 6 people who will want to be snowed in with you during every storm!
Ingredients for Spice-Roasted Butternut Squash
One (3-pound) butternut squash peeled seeded and diced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 425°F.
In a large bowl, toss the squash with the olive oil, cumin, coriander and season with salt and pepper.
Spread the squash on a baking sheet in a single layer and roast in the oven for about 40 minutes, until tender and slightly browned, tossing once halfway through.
Transfer to a bowl and serve.
It’s that simple!
Beautifully carved watermelon at our hotel in Barbados!
