The Winter of the Arctic Blasts

Winter started looking like this in early December and we stayed buried in snow until just last week.

Ahh, winter. My favorite season.... NOT!! Every year I hate winter a bit more and every year it seems to get worse. Well, this winter it did not seem to get worse, it did! The first snow storm hit in early December and we got pummeled by storm after stom for nearly four months. To make matters worse, without an El Niño or La Niña this year yet again, we were at the mercy of the jet stream and arctic fronts, with massive blocks of cold air dropping down frigid temperatures across nearly 2/3 of the country. It was a winter like I've never experienced before. In February alone we had 21 of 28 days below average and 14 of 28 days in which the high temperature for the day didn't even get above freezing. We had long stretches of temps in the teens and 20's and several record cold days. Above all, I think everyone on the east coast became familiar with the term Arctic Blast, and in my memory, the winter of 2013/14 will be in fact one big Arctic Blast. And to make matters worse, it's still not over. It may snow again tomorrow! It'll surely be a slow warm up and a below average Spring this year.

I hate the snow, but I had to stop and take this photo on my way to work on day.
I'll admit, it was really scenic.

That said, it's been miserable for cycling this winter. Usually I'll try to ride as much as is safe but with road conditions effected by the constant snow and ice storms, even the most dedicated hard-men I know hung up their bikes this winter. I tried to ride the rollers inside, but by mid- February I couldn't make myself go down into my 45 degree basement and spin the hamster wheel. I am unusually and depressingly out of shape. It was a rough winter and it's going to be a tough spring. It's hard to believe that just months ago I was flying up mountains, dropping groups of riders in Gran Fondi, and feeling the best I've ever felt on the bike.

But, it's time to get on with it. The annual Hell of Hunterdon ride, an epic 75mi romp over the steep hills and gravel back roads of Hunterdon County in the style of a Flemish Classic, is next Saturday. It's going to be hell in every sense of the word. After riding a bit this week (and getting too many flats) I am starting to feel a little better, but it's going to be nothing compared to last year's blitz of the course. Last year I averaged 18mph, this year I'll be happy to do 16mph. But I think everyone is going to be going a bit slower after this winter. What can you do? Let's just hope it doesn't rain.

So, what have I been up to this winter? A lot of cooking, baking, and eating. A lot of homemade pasta, artisan bread, some killer cookies... and that doesn't even include the usual giant Christmas feast! Every snow day (and there were a lot of them) was a chance to concoct another loaf, another batch of ravioli, etc. I guess if you can't get out and ride you might as well give up and get as fat as you can on good home cooking, right?! Below are just a few examples of some of the food I've made this winter:

Clockwise from top left: Homemade Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with Portobello Mushroom and Grape Tomato a la Toscana; Homemade Spaghetti alla Norma; Creamy Polenta with Spinach, Onion, Cremini Mushroom, and Sundried Tomato; Orecchiette and Tuscan Braised Beans (not your typical Pasta e Fagiole)

Pasta with Spicy Seitan Sausage, Roasted Peppers, Eggplant and Garlic (see Vegetarian Cooking Tab for recipe)

Finally perfected my own pizza dough.

Are you hungry yet? Well, keep an eye out for lots of new recipies and additions to the Vegetarian Cooking page of this blog. Lots more to come this summer and hopefully some exciting announcements about new culinary ventures.

Besides that, who knows what the cycling season has in store for me this year. Maybe some traveling in the US for a change, probably not another trip to Italy this year, but I'll keep you all up to date. I'm just excited for the season to finally begin. It's been a long, cold, lonely winter. I've missed all my cycling buddies!