Crisis of the Seasons

Truth?  I was going through a total identity crisis of seasons here.  My eyes could see the forecast, I can feel the cold but my heart just WANTS it to be summer.  I finally broke out the winter coat yesterday since it was sleeting/snowing and the temps were dipping into the high 20's. My flip flops are still laying with the rest of my shoes... I suppose I should probably put them up in the closet?
My husband was gone for the first weekend of deer hunting, and the kids and I REALLY enjoyed our girls weekend! I had sushi with friends on Thursday night and the kiddos ate up all the grandma time they could while mom was away enjoying girlie chat.  Friday we went to the Children's Museum with friends and had SO much fun! Saturday was boutique shopping and Sweet Girl's first sleepover at our house.  Total success!  Sunday, thankfully, was just to relax and welcome home the husband. So, Monday rolls around.  It was expected to be the first measurable snowfall for MN this winter, and we hunkered down with pajamas, movies and crafts, including these super cute little turkeys. 

Here's where the crisis of the season's comes into play...
My mind was on my husband.  Hunting.  Vension. Warmth.  I knew he was gone all weekend and would probably really enjoy some good comfort food, so I decided to tie in venison with the meal.  I decided on venison stew and the girls and I got to chopping veggies.  BUT then I opened the freezer and saw them... the raspberries and strawberries we picked when the weather was warm and sunny and I immediately wanted THAT.  I'm a sucker for warm weather.  I'm happiest sitting outside, soaking up the sun and watching my kids splash and play in the pool.  I'm happiest at the cabin with my friend and her littles for a girls weekend.  Happiest having wine on the deck, watching the sunset with the guy I love. I'm NOT happiest having to bundle up in layers just to drive my oldest to school or go out and play.
I decided to make both.  I made comforting, warming venison stew and I also made some muffins for breakfast the next day with both strawberries and raspberries we picked earlier this year.  It's wonderful tasting sweet summer berries when the weather is cold and snowy!  But it also made me come to terms with the fact it's time to retire the flip flops and dresses until May or so. Boo.

So, here is what you need to say an official "good-bye" to warm weather and "hello" to (gulp) winter.

Venison Stew

 (substitute beef if venison isn't your thing)

*1/4 cup bacon grease (yes, it does make a difference. If you don't have any on hand, fry up about 6 pieces of bacon and you can throw the bacon in the stew, too!)

*2 pounds of venison, cut into chunks (I used loin last night)

*1/2 cup flour

*1 medium onion

*2 cups of sliced carrots

*1 cup of chopped celery

*whatever other veggies you have on hand.  I tossed in about a cup of sliced fresh mushrooms and a few potatoes I had boiled and cut up into chunks

*2 cans of beef broth (or use your homemade beef broth)

*1 beef bouillon cube

*3/4 cups of red wine 

*2-3 bay leaves

*salt & pepper

Heat up your bacon grease in a large pot over medium/high heat and throw in your veggies.  I started with the potatoes first so they'd get nice and brown, removed them and tossed in the rest. Cook them until they're tender and remove from the pot to make room for the meat. Season the meat with salt and pepper and then coat the chunks of meat in flour.  Set them into greased pot and brown them.  Don't COOK them, just brown them.  I set my pot to a medium high heat and did about 2 minutes on each side so the chunks were nice and brown. Add back veggies and pour in the red wine.  The wine will help get all the delicious brown bits off the bottom of your pan and into your stew.  Mmmmm.  Add your bouillon cube and let it simmer a few minutes.  Then add your beef broth. I use two cans because I really like a lot of gravy, but you can just add slowly and decide for yourself when you want to stop. Add bay leaves, a bit more salt and pepper and then cover and let simmer on low for about 1 hour.  To thicken the gravy, mix together 1/2 cup cold water with 3-4 tablespoons of flour.  Whisk it together nicely so there are no lumps.  Then spoon out about a cup of gravy/broth from the stew to add to the flour/water mix.  Whisk so there are no lumps and then pour into the stew and stir well.  Cover and let simmer for about a 1/2 hour or so, stirring now and then.  I really like this with hot crescent rolls.  SO good.  Since I only make this a few times a year, I often forget that this makes A LOT of stew.  Be sure you are hungry, invite friends over, or share with a neighbor!

This next recipe is seriously the most fantastic muffins I've ever made.  Ever.

You're gonna love them.

Morning Muffins

*7 tablespoons butter, browned and cooled

*1/3 cup buttermilk

*1 egg

*1 egg yolk

*1 tsp vanilla

*1.5 cups flour

*1.5 tsp baking powder (NOT baking soda)

*3/4 cup sugar

*pinch of salt

*1.5 cups berries, fresh or frozen (I used strawberries and raspberries. Be sure to thaw them first if using frozen!)

Set the oven to 375 and prepare your muffin pan. Whisk buttermilk, egg, egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in cooled brown butter. In separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Add the wet to the dry and mix. Then add berries.  Spoon into your muffin cups.  THEN top with a streusel topping... 3 tbls very cold butter, 1/2 cup flour and 3 tbls sugar.  Crumble with fingers until crumbley. (is that a word??) Sprinkle on top of the muffins. Bake for 20 minutes.

Freaking awesome.

Of course, this morning brought us snow and while thankfully it wasn't a LOT, it was enough to get the kids and I out there to have a blast sledding down our little hill out back.  Needless to say, being warm in my pajamas, fuzzy socks and enjoying a coffee this morning was the last relaxing moment of the day. Winter has officially begun for this MN family.