Brr, it is cold outside! Let’s have some food to warm us up!

Brrr, it is freezing cold outside! How y’all doing these days? What are y’all going to do in our very last month of 2025? Something fun? When it is freezing outside, I am particularly craving for something warm, not just the temperature, but also food packed with warm spices. What do you think about making some homemade soup, casseroles dishes, and desserts incorporating warm spices (like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom)? I know many of us are very busy around this time of year, but preparing easy home-cooked meals should still be our #1 priority! Think, crockpot/instant pot meal, casserole recipe, and one sheet-pan meal ideas, which perfectly fit for this weather and our hectic schedule. Whatever you choose to make for yourself and your family, please consider incorporating a variety of foods and practice portion control of each food group.

I found three delicious recipes for us to try during December. Note, two of the savory recipes are considered foolproof recipes; the sweet recipe does require some skills and patience. What do you say, let's give it a shot!

Wild Rice and Orzo Chicken Soup: I really was amazed with how easy this recipe is! No oil splattering, no greasy odor during the entire cooking process! The taste is on the point! I highly recommend this recipe!!! I made no adjustment to the recipe. Served my wild rice and orzo chicken soup with some fresh shaved parmesan cheese and chopped parsley! The recipe adapted from Half-Baked Harvest.

Stuffed Shells with Mushroom, Spinach, and Ricotta (lacto-ovo vegetarian friendly): Who does not like pasta? This is a different type of pasta that is packed with Mediterranean flavor and presented in a different way as well. We stuffed the jumbo shells with a creamy mixture of mushroom, spinach, ricotta, and fresh herbs! This stuffed shell pasta recipe is definitely a new routine pasta recipe from now on! The recipe is inspired by Feasting at Home.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll (with cream cheese whipped frosting): It is prime time to indulge in some pumpkin desserts! For this December, I chose this pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe that requires some skills. It also takes a little bit of your time to prepare it. But… the end product is definitely worth every effort you put into! The recipe is adapted from Sugar Spun Run.