I have a few suggestions that may help snap you out of the midwinter blues:
Kung-pao brussels sprouts: An easy weekday recipe. Skip the initial salting of the sprouts-the soy sauce provides adequate seasoning. A nice change from all the fish-sauce based recipes out there.
Nostalgic mains like shrimp scampi or Rondele chicken: you can substitute grated parmesan for the breadcrumbs in the coating like my mom used to. I used flavored goat cheese crumbles because I couldn't find Rondele.
"The Great British Baking Show": "Chopped" meets "Downton Abbey" minus the drama. No sad backstories, outrageous ingredients or conniving. A total gem. Norm thinks pesto is "exotic" and the hosts pronounce genoise "gen-o-eese" and say things like "stop touching the dough balls" and "self-saucing puds".
Looking forward to the Piglet and season 3 of "House of Cards." And snow. We have been robbed of the white stuff that makes winter worthwhile.
