Luxury retirement communities discuss winter warmers you must try
At luxury retirement communities, such as Burnham Waters in Essex, we’re certainly feeling the chill! Winter is upon us, which means it’s the perfect time to explore the kitchen! Whether you’re a traditionalist or you’re looking to try something completely different this season, there are so many delicious dishes to try.
Looking for some inspiration to cook up a storm? You’ve come to the right place! Here are some of our recommended winter warmers that you can easily cook from home. Whether you’re hoping to cook for friends and family, or have an indulgent meal for one, these are just a few of the perfect dishes to try.
Why we love the winter kitchen
Comfort, cosiness and Christmas – need we say more? In our opinion, you can always warm up the chilliest of night with a bowlful of comfort food! Think hearty stews, creamy pastas and golden pies, they warm the cockles and leave you with a smile on your face.
‘Tis the season for spending time with family and friends after all. Whether you’re preparing for a get-together, or looking to create new traditions, food and cooking has the power to bring everyone together. Don’t be worried to experiment and indulge this winter!
Additionally, planning out your meals and batch cooking is also an extremely cost-effective way of living. You can always freeze and store for another evening, and it also means you’ll always have enough to invite a friend round for dinner!
Creamy chicken soup
It wouldn’t be a winter warmer list without a good soup on the menu! You know what they say, there’s nothing quite like a delicious bowl to warm the soul. Not only will this recipe have you scraping the bottom of the pot for more, it’s filling and packed full of nutrients to ensure you’re stocked up on vitamins and minerals throughout the winter.
Don’t be fooled, although it tastes luxury, this soup is really easy to make! Plus, if you’re preparing this after Christmas, you can switch it up by adding any leftover pre-cooked meat to the mix! This mixture makes 4-6 portions, depending on how much you fill your bowls up. Simply half the ingredients to make less:
- 1 whole chicken
- 1 large onion
- 4 garlic cloves
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- Crème fraiche
- 3 large carrots
- 3 courgettes
- 3 celery sticks
- 3 leeks
- A large handful of spinach
- 3 chicken stock cubes
- Salt and pepper
Method:
Cook the whole chicken accordingly. Whilst cooking, prepare the soup base. Chop all the vegetables into chunks. Fry your onion and garlic in a pan with a dash of olive oil. Add the carrots, celery, courgettes and leeks. Sauté together on a low heat, stirring often.
Add 2 pints of water to the pot and drop in the stock cubes. Season well with salt and pepper. Shred the chicken and add to the mix, along with a squeeze of lemon and the spinach. Add a good dollop of crème fraiche. Stir in and continue until the spinach starts to wilt.
This is optional, but if you don’t like your soup too chunky, you can use a potato masher to partially break up the soup, for an easier consistency!
Hearty stew
A wintery bowl of homemade stew is always a delicious and hearty meal around this time of the year. Stew is an easy one pot dish that is fast to make; you can freeze it too for ultimate convenience! The main ingredients you’ll need for four portions need are:
- 350g casserole beef
- 2 tbsp plain flour
- Black pepper
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 onion peeled and finely chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 4 carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
- 300ml of beef or vegetable stock
- 400g tine chopped tomatoes
- 2 tsp English mustard
This couldn’t be easier, just:
Preheat the oven to 140°C/fan 120°C/Gas 1. Roll the beef in the seasoned flour and cracked black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a large heavy-based casserole dish and brown the beef.
Put the browned beef onto a plate and add the last tbsp of oil into the casserole dish. Add the onion and cook over a high heat for a couple of minutes. Turn down the heat and add the garlic. Cover and leave to stew until tender.
Once the onion and garlic are soft, add the carrots, stock, tomatoes, mustard and the browned beef, then cover and bring to the boil. Once there, transfer to the oven and cook for 2 hours, so the beef is tender. You can always serve with crusty bread for a little extra - enjoy!
Apple and pecan turnovers with salted caramel cream
Warming flavours ensure this dessert delivers this winter. It’s another easy alternative for every ability within a luxury retirement community! All you need is:
- Half a pack of puff pastry
- 2 apples
- 25g Pecan nut halves
- 6 tbsp sugar (any type will do)
- Half a tsp plain flour
- 75g crème fraiche
- 40g salted caramel sauce
To make this treat:
Preheat your oven to 240°C /220°C fan/gas mark 9, peel and chop the apples into small chunks. Roughly chop the pecans. Toss the apples, pecans, a pinch of salt, the sugar and flour together in a bowl.
Cut the puff pastry into equal rectangles (1 per person). Spoon the apple mixture onto one half of each rectangle, leaving a 1cm border around the edges. Fold the other half of the pastry over onto it and close the edges with a little water. Press down with a fork to completely seal the turnovers. Using a knife, make a small slit in the top of the pastry and place on a baking tray.
Bake for 20-25 minutes on the top shelf. Meanwhile, put the crème fraiche and salted caramel sauce into a small bowl and stir until the sauce is swirled. Once baked, serve the turnovers with a drizzle of the cream and enjoy!
Hot toddy with a twist
This is warm comfort in a cup for a winter’s evening! It’s delicious, sweet and a family favourite. This recipe is alcohol free, but if you want to add a splash of whisky or Cointreau, be our guest! This one is all about the seasonal spices. To make 6 glasses you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp golden caster sugar
- 1.5 litres clear apple juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise
- 2 thumb sized pieces of stem ginger, finely sliced
- 1-2 tbsp maple syrup
- Juice of half an orange
- Juice of 1 lemon, plus a sprinkle of its zest
- 1 thinly sliced red apple
- A sprig of thyme to garnish
Simply:
Put the apple juice in a large pan, add the cinnamon, star anise, stem ginger, syrup, orange and lemon juices and a little lemon zest. Stir and taste. Feel free to add more syrup or lemon, depending on how sweet or sharp you like your drink.
Then, bring all to the boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour into your glasses and garnish with the apple slices and a spring of thyme! Here, you can add 25ml of your desired tipple if you wish.
Don’t fancy cooking tonight?
Of-course, if you’re looking for a treat that doesn’t involve cooking on a cold winter’s night, then many luxury retirement communities will have an onsite restaurant or café. Alongside a delicious selection of food and drinks, how about an afternoon tea as a way to get together with neighbours, friends and family? Sit back, relax in the warm and enjoy some tea and cake!
Our luxury retirement community in Essex
Are you looking to move to a luxury retirement community in the heart of Essex countryside and coast? Well, we’d love to hear from you! Rest assured this winter and become a part of our caring residential community.
Call our friendly sales team today on 01621 861559, or if you have any questions, you can email us at info@burnhamwaters.co.uk. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of our home page and sign up to our newsletter for all the latest news on our community.
