A Winter Feast in the Shire

Winter Comfort in the Shire

With the chill of winter blanketing the Shire and the fires and celebration of Yuletide fading, the hobbits settle into their hobbit holes and await the coming spring. After all the feasting and celebrating at Yuletide, the hobbits look forward to simpler fare as they make use of their well-stocked pantries and larders. While still enjoying their plethora of daily meals, the hobbits turn to the vegetables, fruits, and other foodstuffs preserved from the year before to create simple but nourishing dishes.

First Breakfast – Creamy Barley Porridge with Apples

Start your day right with a warm, comforting bowl of porridge. For a twist on the classic, chewy pearl barley stands in for traditional oats. Pearl barley is simmered with water and oat milk until thick and creamy while a grated apple adds a touch of sweetness and apple flavour to the porridge. With a hint of cinnamon, this barley porridge is topped with honey sweetened sautéed apples, yogurt, and toasted hazelnuts for a filling and hearty breakfast.

Second Breakfast – Mushrooms, Spinach, and Eggs on Toast

One breakfast is never enough when you’re a hungry hobbit. After enjoying an early first breakfast, it’s time to tuck into a mid-morning second breakfast featuring every hobbit’s favourite food – mushrooms! Cremini mushrooms are sautéed with garlic and spinach and then spooned over buttered toast. Topped with a fried egg, this hobbit breakfast is simple, nourishing and comforting on a cozy winter morning.

Elevenses – Cheddar, Green Onion, and Yogurt Scones

These savoury cheddar and green onion scones are the perfect treat for elevenses. Made with less butter than typical scones and plain yogurt instead of cream or buttermilk, these scones have a light and fluffy texture. Sharp cheddar and fresh green onions add a sharp oniony bite which pairs perfectly with the slight tang from the yogurt. Served warm with a bit of butter, these savoury scones are the perfect elevenses treat.

Luncheon – Roasted Chicken and Winter Greens Salad

Succulent chicken breasts are roasted on the bone and served with a warm winter greens salad. Warm roasted cabbage is combined with cold kale and radicchio for a delightful contrast in textures and flavour. The sweetness of the roasted cabbage balances with the bitterness of the radicchio and kale while toasted hazelnuts add a nutty crunch. The rich pan drippings are blended with shallots and malt vinegar to create an intensely flavourful and savoury pan drippings vinaigrette. This warm winter salad with roasted chicken is the perfect lunch on a cold winter day.

Afternoon Tea – Ginger, Pear, and Rye Cake

As the afternoon stretches on, the hungry hobbits eagerly look forward to a mid-afternoon tea break. They settle in with a piping hot pot of tea and a slice of this sweet and spiced ginger pear cake. Made with a blend of all-purpose and dark rye flour, this rye cake gets a punch of spicy flavour from both ground and fresh ginger. Ripe pears are grated into the cake and thinly sliced to garnish the top of the cake resulting in a moist and delicious crumb. With a touch of molasses, this ginger, pear, and rye tea cake is the perfect sweet treat to enjoy for a cozy winter afternoon tea.

Dinner – Gardener’s Pie with Root Vegetable Mash

Packed with vegetables and hearty legumes, this gardener’s pie is a nourishing and wholesome twist on the classic favourite, shepherd’s pie. Pantry vegetables are cooked with a heaping pile of mushrooms before adding cooked green lentils. Topped with a creamy root vegetable mash, this gardener’s pie is a simple but delicious vegetarian entrée that’s perfect on a cold winter’s night.

Supper – Potato, Leek, and White Bean Soup

As the day comes to an end and the hobbits look forward to settling in for an evening spent by a roaring fire, they find room for one more meal. They might have enjoyed a hearty dinner, but all hungry hobbits know they need a light supper to tide them over until the morning. Packed with tender leeks and hearty white beans, this potato leek soup is the perfect comforting end for a winter’s evening. The soup is left chunky and without heavy cream to keep it light while the beans add a hefty dose of protein. Finish your day of winter hobbit feasting with a warm bowl of this potato white bean soup topped with a dollop of sour cream and fresh chives.