Happy Wednesday! Winter has finally arrived here in the great Midwest and with the bitter cold we’re having right now, there’s no better time to curl up with a cup of tea (I’m obsessed with Aveda’s Comfort tea currently) and find some kitchen inspiration around the internet. Here are a few things I’m loving this week:

• Trying to get over my kitchen laziness and try using dried beans instead of canned.  The New York Times might finally have me convinced that it’s worth the time and pre-planning: Cooking Beans at Home, Leaving the Can Behind
• North African Bean Stew with Barley and Winter Squash. Because I need something to do with all of those beans I can now cook.
• Smitten Kitchen and the truth about Ugly But Good cookies. Amen. Can we all agree that a good cookie is better than a pretty one? I’m looking at you, royal icing.
• Cranberry Orange Prosecco Cocktails. I don’t think I need to say more.
• Via The Atlantic: In Defense of Food and the Rise of Healthy-ish. The Atlantic’s take on food and moderation:  Perfect reminder in this season of resolutions.
• When the Powerball jackpot hits a billion (!) dollars, even Food and Wine writes about it. Although, I can’t say the first thing I would do is make a grocery list. And donkey cheese? No. Just no.
• One of these days, I’ll find a green smoothie I really, actually like. I think this recipe from The Minimalist Baker sounds promising: Blood Orange Green Smoothie.

The tart in the photo above is my first attempt at Yotam Ottolenghi’s Roast Vegetable Tart. The recipe itself is a little fussy, but so very worth the effort. You can find the recipe in the link above or in his genius cookbook, Plenty.

Happy Reading!