late-winter can’t hurt me because I’ve saved 15 soup recipes
the dishes, restaurants, films I'm relying on for post-holiday survival
Does the world need another “list” of “recommendations?” Nay. Another noodle soup recipe to consider? Certainly not! But is the sun still setting at 4 pm? Sure is.
Last March I wrote up a personal guide—an undisguised tumblr moodboard, if you will— featuring all the warm-weather-inspired films, recipes, and little potentials for joy I hoped would carry me through the final weeks of NYC winter and into the sunny seasons. I’m a Capricorn with near-constant decision fatigue, so in the end, having a ready-made shortlist of saved links and titles to turn to proved super useful.
I’m back again, as early as.. mid-January, with a new list to keep myself uplifted through, inarguably, the worst time of the year—these bitter, post-holiday months of never-ending darkness and chill. Being in a new city far from loved ones (and in a particularly .. grey .. place like London), I’ve anticipated needing some extra doses of comfort and pleasure and escapism to keep me going. If you’re in a similar boat and have also started your annual Google search of “best SAD lamps under $50,” maybe you’ll find some inspiration or motivation in here too? Or, at the very least, a few reminders that, yes, god, there are always things to look forward to. Even if that simply looks like a warm bowl of ribollita perched on your knees and a two and a half hour movie that takes place somewhere, anywhere else.
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tunes
Shall we begin! Headphones are on; the front window seat on the bus has been claimed.
For me, this winter it’s Michigan (it always is). Fleet Foxes (also, always). Older (And Wiser). Shelter. Playing the Piano. Adrienne Lenker. Imogen Heap. Arlo Parks. Of course, Blue. Every one of those stupid Spotify “vintage jazz” playlists I play to keep me company while browning onions. My friend Laura’s and my most recently collaborated on brutal but occasionally comforting winter list, for when I’m feeling like leaning into the hurt of winter.
dishes
Soup season. Soup season!! I’m hungering for Ribollita. And Chili—always chili—via this long-saved recipe from an NYC favorite, Yellow Rose, on 3rd Avenue. Spicy Mushroom Noodle. A return to one of my forever favorites, Green Chicken Soup with Chickpeas and Sizzled Spices. Creamy Chicken Leek Pasta Soup for some extra-carby deliciousness.
When craving a quick, beany weeknight dinner, I’m eyeing these Creamy Miso Tahini Beans with bread, or this Butter Bean Dip with Frizzled Onions & Preserved Lemon scooped onto pita chips.
For brightness amidst grey, I’m looking to Ottolenghi’s Turmeric and Peppercorn Curry with Shrimp and Asparagus. Andy Baraghani’s Buttery Tomato and Cinnamon Spiced Rice.
In terms of pure comfort dishes, I’m salivating over:
’s Personal Chicken Pot Pie. ’s Vegan Dan Dan Noodles with Eggplant. ’s Red Wine Short Ribs with Creamy Risotto.A return to Dan Pelosi’s Vodka Sawce, though this time I’ll give his vegan version a go.
And for something lighter without sacrificing comfort, White Wine Chicken Meatballs sound nice with roasted root veg, a spicy yogurt sauce, and some rice.
desserts
Ever since
shared his Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake, I’ve been lusting after it. This Olive Oil cake too. I don’t care if it isn’t fall, give me pumpkin all year.King Arthur’s Foccacia of the Year.
Skillet Gingerbread Cake with Apple Butter.
’s Sticky Earl Grey Tea Loaf with Salted Honey Butter.Sweet Potato Brownies. Also, Tahini Halva Brownies.
And for years, I’ve said I’ll make this Apple Cheddar Pie—maybe I’ll finally do it?
drinks
For some fun bevs to spice up my usual morning rotations, I’ve been eager to try:
Bulked Up Coffee to start the day, and a Rooibos Latte with Honey to end it.
Toasted Malted Milkshakes for brain freeze.
’s Mulled Cider and Hailee Catalano’s Blood Orange French Martini for cheek-flushing.’s Salted Date Hot Chocolate for audible mmmmm-ing.books
Here are some books on my To-Read Shelf that I can’t wait to devour—ones I am particularly dreaming of reading under a thick blanket, nestled inside the couch, somewhere in front of a roaring fire. Some summer escapism; some wintry leaning in. I’m not a romantasy or cozy-mystery genre fanatic; instead, these are the titles calling my name.
Women’s Hotel by Daniel M. Lavery.
Pleasure Beach by Helen Palmer.
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout.
May You Have Delicious Meals by Junko Takase (Feb 2025).
Long Island by Colm Tóibín.
Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.
Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad.
Little Weirds by Jenny Slate.
A Year Of Nothing - Winter Spring by
.And of course, Be Ready When The Luck Happens by Ina Garten.
films
Winter movies are funny because they’re either the coziest, warmest, soul-fulfilling titles that drip in gold and satin and leave me wanting to flounce around hotel lobbies, sip warm wine, and kiss someone with nice-smelling aftershave. Or they leave me raw, bone-chilled, and catastrophically depressed? My list of films to both Watch and Rewatch this winter encompasses the entire spectrum—for both the cheery, chilly days and the bleak ones.
In Bruges. Winter’s Bone. The Thing. Little Women. Tampopo. Grand Budapest Hotel. Lost in Translation. Eloise, etc. Full list of titles compiled into a Letterboxd list here. To hopefully fill your snow-day cup, no matter the mood.
meals
For the London-based readers in the mix (hi!), here are the coziest spots on my To-Eat list that seem worth the cold winter outing (a big ask..):
A glass of red wine at 28 Church Row, a tucked away downstairs dining room in Hampstead. A glass of white from 107, and then tiramisu from Leo’s, near me in Clapton.
A matcha and a cake, maybe a miso soup, from Uchi, and I’m not just saying that because apparently you get little slippers to wear during your meal there?
Coffee at Hjem, because Danes do winter correctly.
Equal Parts for cocktails. Royal Oak and the Holly Bush for pints.
Silo or BiBi for a fancy meal. Tanakatsu for warming broth. Fran’s for breakfast. Paul Rothe & Son for sandwiches and my one allotted tourist treat per month. Paulie’s Bagels, for important scientific research….
And if I were still in New York, feeling gloomy and cursing the loud clanging heating pole in my apartment, I’d be making a point to visit some of my favorite cozy haunts. The list from last March can be found here.
Otherwise? The rest of this season will be all about remembering to layer enough to properly enjoy my walks; schoolwork; taking long phone calls from my bed; playing every NYT Game whilst sitting at the bar; planning for summer; yearning (undoubtedly); and watching as the sun, ever so slowly, starts to set later and later and laaaaater, amen.
listening to Blue for three days in a row, doing fine 🙂↕️🙂↕️
Was really struggling to find a soup to make this week so we thank you for your service 🫡🫡🫡