Winter As Care
Soups, elixirs, and tending the season
Winter light held low by candle flame. Early darkness gathering around the table. A spoon against a ceramic mug, broth simmering nearby. Wool socks on cool floors. Hands near the stove. Citrus peels opened slowly. Fresh eucalyptus cut and placed in water. Outside, the world quieter than usual. Lentils and grains cooked slow, bread torn by hand. Music low beneath conversation. Beds holding warmth longer than expected. Time stretching, unhurried.
Winter always nudges me back into the kitchen. Not in a dramatic way — just a steady pull toward warmth, nourishment, and care. This season, the ritual I’m returning to most is food as medicine.
In a moment marked by so much pain and uncertainty, I’ve been thinking a lot about how small acts of tending ripple outward — a reminder that care isn’t just personal, but collective.
Most days, that looks like soups built on bone broth — heavy on vegetables, made in quantities meant to last. Food that’s ready when someone needs it.
I’ve been baking more sourdough too (thanks to my friend Bettina, who turned me onto this ritual) — feeding the starter, folding the discard into whatever makes sense that week. A rhythm that feels both practical and comforting.
Here’s a short list of the soups and sourdough discard recipes I use most, if you’re curious: Everyday Lentil Soup, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, White Bean and Kale Orzo Stew, Sourdough Blueberry Muffins, and Fluffy Sourdough Pancakes.
Throughout the day, I’m almost always drinking something warm. Lately it’s been simple lemon, ginger, and honey tea — less of a remedy, more of a companion. Something to sip while the pot simmers or the dough rests.
The ritual I’ve been most intentional about, though, is a winter immunity elixir I make in small batches and keep in the fridge. It’s not complicated, but it’s deliberate — something I return to when the season feels especially heavy, or when a cold seems to be circling.
I’m sharing the recipe below — not as a prescription, just as something that’s been part of our winter rhythm this year.
Winter Immunity Elixir
Inspired by and adapted from Rachael Devaux (@rachaelsgoodeats)
Ingredients
2 cups fresh organic orange juice
½ lemon, squeezed
1-inch knob ginger, peeled and grated
1-inch knob turmeric, peeled and grated
3 garlic cloves
3 tbsp chopped white onion
2 tbsp raw honey (local, whenever possible)
Directions
Warm the orange and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add the ginger, turmeric, garlic, and onion and bring to a gentle simmer. Let it cook for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, then blend until smooth. Stir or blend in the honey. Serve chilled or warm — I prefer it cold.
This kind of tending extends beyond the kitchen, whether we name it or not.
Winter asks for little. Just warmth and consistency, offered again and again. If you make the elixir or try one of the recipes, I’d love to hear.
xx,
LATELY ON OFF SEASON:
