Winter Solstice

The winter solstice is the day with the shortest daylight hours.  It doesn’t feel like it, but starting today the days will be getting longer for the next six months until the summer solstice. As far back as I can recall I’ve been interested in the four days of the year that mark the change of seasons, and include the two solstices and equinoxes. Perhaps some Druid blood runs in my veins (though I doubt it). I’ve always felt like these events deserve notice, if not celebration! At St. John the Divine Cathedral, every year since 1968 the Paul Winter Consort has performed to commemorate the winter solstice. I’m sorry to say that if you’re just hearing about this for the first time, you’ve missed this year’s concert. Perhaps next year… I will meet you there.

The celebration of the solstice was called the Saturnalia, in ancient Rome and was a week long festival meant to tempt the gods to bring the light and warmth back to the earth replete with feasts, and gift giving. Believe what you like about Christmas, and the date, but until 325 A.D. Christmas and Easter were celebrated together, at the Spring equinox. Christmas was moved to December to woo pagans away from their Saturnalia celebrating. If you won’t be offended by the initial irreverence this is a  fascinating article about how the current calendar, particularly Christian holidays, has evolved.

Winter is tough for many people, I at least live on a latitude that allows me some daylight hours. I don’t like how early the dark falls each day, but what I struggle with more is trying to drag myself out of bed in the dark. It feels so wrong and kind of Medieval. Half the time I expect to hear monks chanting as they walk down the hall. I love my house, but it is on a corner, and though it’s nice and toasty when the heat is on, on a cold, windy day it gets very cold when it’s off. My cats spends their days huddled on my bed on a fleece blanket, and even though they are sworn enemies have been known to cuddle up together on really cold days.

I wake this morning knowing today there will be two more minutes of daylight today than yesterday, and two more tomorrow, and that is enough to make me feel optimistic. In a week or so I will start counting the days until Spring begins, and (secretly) until my birthday shortly after that. Winter has just begun, and I’ll need to pace myself as the cold wraps itself around me. I will turn on my oven and bake and roast and braise my way through the cold months. Soups and stews, and warming root vegetables will cover my table.

Asian Short Ribs Recipe

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Ingredients

• 2lb English cur short ribs
• 2 scallions
• 1 piece ginger
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1/4 cup Mirin or Sherry
• 2 cups beef or chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Step 1

In food processor chop ginger, garlic and scallion (reserving one scallion for garnish) to a fine mince, rub this mixture on ribs, saving any extra

Step 2

Make a marinade of the soy sauce and sugar, and put ribs into marinade, adding any remaining ginger,garlic, scallion mixture to the marinade Marinate for 2-8 hours

Step 3

Remove ribs from marinade, and scrape off the scallion mixture off, dry ribs with a paper towel, save marinade Heat oil in a heavy pot over medium-high heat, when oil is hot add ribs and brown on all sides

Step 4

Once ribs have browned remove them from the pot, and scrape out any of the scallion mixture from the pot so they don't burn, but don't clean the pot! Add mirin and remaining marinade to deglaze pan

Step 5

Add stock to pot, and return ribs to pot, as soon as liquid starts to boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and cook on low for two hours.Ribs are done when they are fork tender (when a long-pronged fork is stuck into the meat the meat should easily slide off the fork)

Step 6

In a separate small pot, on low heat, melt butter, and add flour, stir to combine and cook for two to three minutes, then add some of the cooking liquid from the ribs,a little at a time, until gravy starts to thicken. Taste for seasoning

Step 7

Slice remaining scallion on the bias,for garnish. Serve over rice or Chinese noodles.

What are your favorite cold weather dishes?