We all remember inclement weather recess from our elementary school years. Rain, extreme heat, heavy winds or snow seem to automatically mean that staying indoors is required for play and exercise alike. Runners are a different breed. Many of us can be found outdoors in all weather and elements chasing our runner’s high. However, this is not always the preference of every runner. Some prefer to follow suit from elementary school and stay indoors on a treadmill or cycle to workout in shelter until the sun shines mildly again.
Either way, a cold, wet day ends the same way in my book: with a bowl of soup. The slow cooker does the work while you’re out in it (or on the treadmill, no judgment). These are the soups I’d keep in rotation from October through March.
Butternut Squash Soup
If I had to pick one soup to start the season with, it would be this one. Cubed squash, a chopped apple, an onion and some broth go in on low for about 6 hours, and then an immersion blender does the rest right in the pot. Buy the squash already peeled and cubed. Peeling a whole one is the worst job in this entire roundup, in my book.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken thighs, carrots, celery, onion and broth, nothing fancy. The one thing I’d do differently from most slow cooker versions is cook the noodles separately on the stove and add them to each bowl, because egg noodles left in the pot for hours turn to mush (and they keep soaking up broth in the fridge).
Minestrone
FSIS says the foods that do best in a slow cooker are the ones with a lot of moisture, like soup, chili and stew, and minestrone is about as wet as it gets. Beans, diced tomatoes, zucchini, carrots and a parmesan rind if you have one. Small pasta goes in for the last 30 minutes.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Here’s everything that goes into it, laid out: broccoli, carrots, onion, sharp cheddar, broth and a little cream. The cheese is the part to watch. Stir it in at the end with the cooker on low, a handful at a time, or it can turn grainy.
Split Pea Soup With Ham
Dried split peas don’t need soaking, which is about the only reason I ever make them. Add a ham hock or leftover ham, carrots, celery and onion, cover everything with broth, and give it 8 hours on low. It thickens a lot as it cools, so thin the leftovers with a splash of water.
Why Your Nose Runs on Cold Runs
If you often exercise in cold weather, the dry, chilly air can be the culprit behind your runny nose. This is due to the increased secretion of mucus in the nasal cavity in response to the lack of humidity in the atmosphere.
You see, mucus in the nose serves to moisten the air before it enters the lungs. When you exercise in dry, cold air, more mucus is secreted to make up for the lack of humidity. This is necessary to protect your airways from irritants and pollutants.
Avoiding this particular trigger is somewhat easier compared to others. You can start by doing your high-intensity exercises indoors during winter. If you insist on working out in cold weather, make sure you wear a mask to naturally humidify the air entering your nose whenever you exhale.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A dump-and-go recipe in the truest sense. Chicken breasts, black beans, corn, a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles, broth and cumin. Shred the chicken after about 6 hours, stir it back in, and pile on tortilla strips, avocado and lime at the table.
Zuppa Toscana
Italian sausage, sliced potatoes, kale and a creamy broth. Brown the sausage first so you can drain off the fat. The kale and cream go in during the last 20 minutes; any earlier and the kale gets sort of sad.
Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese
Canned whole tomatoes, onion, garlic, broth and a splash of cream for the soup, plus bread and cheese for the sandwiches, which is what’s pictured here. The soup cooks on low for about 4 hours before it gets blended. Make the grilled cheese on the stove while the blender runs and everything lands on the table at the same time.
Lentil Soup
Lentils are the cheapest protein on this list, and brown or green ones hold their shape through a long cook. Onion, carrot, celery, garlic, cumin and a can of tomatoes. A squeeze of lemon right before serving wakes the whole pot up.
Beef and Barley Soup
Cubed chuck, pearl barley, mushrooms, carrots and beef broth. Barley drinks a lot of liquid, so I’d add an extra cup of broth from the start. Give it 8 hours on low.
French Onion Soup
The slow cooker handles the most tedious part, which is caramelizing a big pile of onions. Sliced onions and a bit of butter go in on low for about 10 hours (overnight works), then the beef broth gets added for the last couple of hours. Ladle it into oven-safe bowls, top with toasted bread and Gruyère, and broil until the cheese bubbles.
Cold Air and Sore Teeth
Under the tooth enamel, there’s a layer of dentin that has microscopic tubules that lead to the bulb with all the nerve endings responsible for teeth pain and sensitivity. If your enamel layer is worn down or you suffer from gum recession, the bulb gets exposed to cold air sensitivity through the dentin. You can tell that this is the case if you feel sharp pain with every inhale. You’ll also notice that drinking ice water replicates the sensation.
A few ways to deal with it:
- Try breathing in through your nose. You should only involve your mouth in exhalation to limit exposure to cold air.
- Turn relaxing your jaw into an integral part of your running form, so you’re not clenching down on your teeth.
- If you find that cold air worsens your sinusitis, try rescheduling your morning runs later in the day when it’s warmer.
- For tooth cavities or serious inflammations, you’ll need a visit to the dentist to get some work done.
Potato Leek Soup
Leeks, Yukon Gold potatoes, garlic and broth. After about 6 hours on low it’s soft enough to blend right in the pot, like you see here. Rinse the leeks well. Grit hides between the layers and you won’t know it’s there until you bite down on it.
Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Wild rice is a good fit for a slow cooker because it takes forever on the stove anyway. Chicken thighs, carrots, celery, mushrooms and the rice go in together, and a little cream at the end makes it richer. Check the chicken with a thermometer, since all poultry should reach 165°F.
Black Bean Soup
Short and cheap. Canned black beans (or dried ones soaked overnight), onion, garlic, cumin and broth, blended partway so some beans stay whole. Sour cream and salsa on top.
Classic Beef Chili
Ground beef, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic and a good amount of chili powder and cumin. Strictly speaking it’s chili and not soup, but I’m not going to make a list of slow cooker soups and leave it off (it would feel wrong). Cheddar and a few green onions on top, and some cornbread if you have it.
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup
A jar of roasted red peppers stirred in with the tomatoes makes this one a little sweeter and smokier than plain tomato soup. Blend it smooth and finish with a spoonful of cream and some basil. On a weeknight I’d pair it with nothing more than a hunk of bread.
White Bean and Kale Soup
Cannellini beans, kale, carrots, onion, garlic, rosemary and chicken or vegetable broth. If there’s a parmesan rind sitting in your fridge, this is where it goes. Add the kale near the end so it keeps some color.
Shoulder Pain After a Run
The most common cause of shoulder pain while running is poor form, which a lot of beginner runners may struggle with. Leaning your head forward, rounding your shoulders and raising your shoulders toward your ears put a lot of pressure on the muscles in your neck, and they’ll soon become overused and begin to hurt. After starting in your neck, the pain can spread to your shoulders and back.
One way to treat shoulder pain at home is a pack of ice. Wrap it in a towel so that your skin doesn’t come in contact with it, then press it against the sore areas of your shoulder. Keep the ice against your shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes and wait for about 2 hours. If the pain is still there, reapply the ice and repeat the process if necessary.
However, if this pain remains long afterward to prevent you from running comfortably or doing your daily activities, it might be an indicator of an injury. In this case, you must see a doctor to understand the real reason behind your pain and get the right treatment.
Italian Wedding Soup
The meatballs are the only real work. Keep them small (about an inch) and they cook right in the broth along with carrots, spinach and a little pasta. Store-bought meatballs are fine here, needless to say, as long as they’re thawed in the fridge first if they came from the freezer.
Corn Chowder
Corn, diced potatoes, onion, a few slices of bacon and broth, with milk or cream stirred in at the end. Mash some of the potatoes against the side of the pot to thicken it without any flour.
Cabbage Roll Soup
All the flavor of stuffed cabbage without rolling a single leaf. Ground beef, chopped cabbage, tomato sauce, onion and a little brown sugar and vinegar. I’d add the rice for the last hour so it doesn’t break down.
Chicken Enchilada Soup
Think chicken tortilla soup with a can of red enchilada sauce and some cream cheese stirred in at the end, so it comes out thicker and a little richer. Shredded chicken, black beans, corn and onion round it out. Top with cheese and cilantro.
Vegetable Beef Soup
Stew meat, potatoes, green beans, carrots, corn, tomatoes and beef broth. It’s the soup that empties the vegetable drawer. Soups like this keep 3 to 4 days in the fridge and 2 to 3 months in the freezer, so freeze half in single portions for later.