Moody Winter Blues

Everyone talks about the dog days of summer, but I'm hit with a case of winter blues right now. I miss fresh produce - everything green and abundant in my little patio garden and I miss longer sunlit days for sure. Not to mention being hit with a colossal winter upper respiratory infection. I want to sink my teeth into a succulent peach. Yeah, yeah....citrus is definitely in season right now, but there is only so much limoncello one can make! I did receive in the mail a killer jar of Michigan Meadow honey from my aunt and uncle. As soon as I smelled the light floral fragrance of that honey, I was transported to chewing the stems of clover flowers every summer as a child. Isn't it amazing how powerful food is for our memories? I had to make a BBQ sauce from some of it, combining old flavors (the floral honey) and new flavors (chipotle). The result was a rich sweetness with just a hint of warmth that built the more you ate it. I have to say, of all the sauces I've made this is definitely my favorite. I took a bunch of chicken parts and froze them with the sauce - from experience during the thawing process the chicken marinates and becomes tender and so flavorful! Maybe once I'm feeling better and have more energy, I'll thaw some and light up the grill. It's hard to grill these days though....by six it's dark.






Luscious chicken marinated in in the smoky honey sauce and grilled. Was awesome!!


Well, like summer, winter won't last forever. I can't wait for spring with new growth and longer days and gentler weather. Tomorrow seems promising.