Gluten-Free Foods – Winter Approaches

The arrival of cold weather here in NYC has brought with it a surprising revelation.  I LOVE fall and winter produce.  I know that farmers’ markets and grocery stores abound with all kinds of fresh produce during the summer, but my first tastes of delicata squash and persimmons this season made me realize how much I missed them.

My friend Clark once laughed at me when I excitedly discussed the arrival of some fruit or vegetable to my local store.  “Oh you seasonal eaters crack me up!” he said.  Sure I’m not always a ‘good seasonal eater – I do enjoy apples all year round and would have a hard time giving up zucchini when it’s out of peak season.  But eating seasonally gives me a chance to really enjoy and almost overload on the best mother nature has to nourish us with during that time of year.  The foods have the most flavor and vitamins, bringing the most pleasure and nutrition to your body.

I know it’s not realistic to for everyone to eat seasonally all the time, and it can be difficult to keep track of what you should eat when.  But if you shop the items in your produce section that are on sale you are usually doing it by default AND it has the side benefit of being more affordable.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my excitement with you – it’s time for delicata squash and persimmons and apples of all kinds, sweet potatoes and pumpkins and stews.  I’m going to make some hearty bean and chili dishes.  Oh I’m not looking forward to bundling up in heavy jackets and braving the snow, after all I am still a California girl at heart.  But the culinary delights awaiting me the next few months make it a little bit easier to bear.

What are the winter foods that warm your soul?