I have been thinking about the foods we crave during winter as we tend towards being indoors. Snuggling up with cozy blankets, a fire, a good book and a warm bowl of soup. Soups in my home usually include beans, grains, loads of root veg and always seasonal greens. Wandering the farmers market is the best way to know what is in season and what is in season is well thought out by mother nature. In winter potatoes, root vegetables and hearty greens all provide wonderful vitamins that nourish the body and skin to give us a healthy glow even in the dreariest of months. Most importantly they give us a sense of feeling full and comforted. As a cook there is no better feeling than providing friends and family with a sense of comfort. For me winter is the month we dwell on what is ahead in the coming year. It is a time to slow down and nourish our mind as well as body. Soups require slow eating lest we spill or slurp to quickly making unattractive sounds. The produce available during this time of year inspires foods that are meant to be enjoyed at a slow pace with good conversations and good wine. Soups, stews and long ago dishes made by our mothers or grandmothers seem to provide what we crave in winter. Eating seasonally sustains a beautiful cycle of goodness and memories we can bring to ourselves and others.