Cold weather calls for playful outdoor activities followed by warm, comforting meals indoors. Why not warm up to winter by gathering loved ones for a Winter Wonderland Get-Together? Set a date and invite your friends and family to bundle up and embrace the outdoors. Whether you plan a beautiful stroll in your neighborhood or snowshoeing for those of you in the white stuff, winter is a beautiful season to take in the nature that surrounds you. Grab the binoculars for some bird watching or bring your camera to snap some photos. After you jump-start your morning outside, retire back to your house for a comforting meal. Winter entertaining can be both simple and nourishing. Before your guests arrive, prepare all the ingredients for a simple and satisfying seasonal appetizer board. And the day of cook one of your favorite hearty soups or stews that can be easily reheated upon your return. Recipes don’t have to be complex, it’s as much about being together as it is about the menu. Start a fire or light some candles to warm up your get-together and cozy up!
Winter Wonderland Get-Together
Coziness Appetizer Board
Smoked Salmon or Gravlax
Ricotta, we prefer Bellwether Whole Milk Basket Ricotta
Clif Family Kitchen Everything Spice
Rye Crispbread Crackers
Accoutrements such as cornichons, olives and picked onions
Clementines, as is, in their peel
Dried fruit such as dates, blueberries or cherries
Clif Family Kitchen Roasted Almonds & Pistachios
A Comforting Main Course
Serve your signature soup or stew in large mugs. straight off the stove with a ladle and encourage your guests to help themselves in the kitchen. Warm up a crusty bread such as a ciabatta or boule loaf to enjoy with the meal. And add a special touch by serving a beautiful European styled butter topped with a finishing salt.
Try Chef John’s Cauliflower Soup Recipe
Winter Sips
Serve sparkling water in a carafe, with slices of orange on the side.
Serve a cup of warm cocoa
Clif Family, 2015 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Clif Family, 2015 Bici, Red Rhone Blend
Snuggle up and complete your Winter Wonderland Get-Together with a round of cards or board games such as scrabble or parcheesi. And who doesn’t love a little something sweet? Present a tin of Clif Family Kitchen Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels, opened with a silver spoon for your guests to help themselves. Offer coffee, tea or Clif Family Petite Sirah Dessert Wine.