Eating by the fire in winter can be one of the best ways to enjoy a meal with friends. Or, maybe it’s that you have too many guests to fit at the dining table. Whatever your reason, eating food from a bowl or a plate on your lap is a challenge – you can’t have too many utensils, cutting is often impossible, and lots of different dishes just seem to crowd the plate.
Cold-weather calls for cooking rustic, peasant-style dishes and robust stews. For an all-ages getaway ski weekend, a hearty one-pot stew was made ahead and then gently reheated after a long, blustery day on the slopes. With 15 for dinner, this one-utensil dish was easily eaten on our laps in the living room. Optional: bring a guitar, a songbook and willing voices.
Recipe: Chicken Chili Stew
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