Snow Day Recipes

Our backyard from the last big snow (we haven't got the camera out yet for this one)

We're still surviving Snowmageddon - in fact, we're heading into Snowmageddon 2, Electric Boogaloo - but for some reason, snow days always make me want to cook.  Well, not just cook, experiment.  I saw a recipe that looked interesting, but ended up taking it in a completely different direction, and it turned out really terrific (at least, Mom and I both thought so.  The guys were reluctant to try it.  Their loss.)

At any rate... this one is dead simple.  It does have avocado, so it's definitely a snow-day kind of food, although I think it also might be my next pot-luck contribution - really, it's that good.  Take a can of chickpeas (drained and rinsed), mash them up with a fork (we're looking for rustic here, not completely pulverized), add a can of mild roasted green chilies (or whatever heat quotient you're comfortable with - I'm a bit of a wuss), and mash in one avocado.  Add a couple of teaspoons of lime juice, salt and pepper to taste, and you're good to go.  Works as a sandwich filling, would be terrific with sliced cucumbers/carrots/peppers as a dip... if people weren't watching, I'd be willing to just scoop it into my mouth, but that would not be polite. 

Last night, we did up a basic potato/leek/mushroom soup - also turned out good, but next time, I think I might want to add a little barley or something - needed some textural interest.

Tonight, we're going to make up a good vegan chili -  http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2012/01/healthy-super-bowl-party-chili.html is the base, although Roger adds a little Snappy Tom mix to give it a bit more kick - and use it on some oven-baked fries for vegan chili fries.  We're watching the Opening Night Ceremonies for the Olympics, and this seems to fit the theme. 

So, what food do you turn to on snow days?  Is soup your style?  Pizza?  Grilled cheese and tomato soup used to be my go-to, but I have yet to find a good cheese substitute for melting cheese - although we have found a reasonable tasting Mac'n'Cheez that has Daniel search everywhere for the cheese-bag (he refuses to believe it's vegan.)