It’s January 8, 2023 and for almost two weeks, it’s been windy, raining hard, and flooding due to the atmospheric river storm that has hit the West Coast.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, we’ve been advised to stay indoors and off the roads as much as possible. It’s reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic when everyone was told to shelter-in-place. Like many people at the time, I found solace in the kitchen! I recall baking a bunch of sweets (in a way realizing my childhood dream of being a pastry chef!) and making more slow cooked meals.

The dreary weather has me craving warm comfort foods like mac & cheese, spaghetti & meatballs, chili & cornbread, and savory stews, like chicken adobo or cassoulet!

January 9 is Cassoulet Day in the United States

Did you know that January 9 is Cassoulet Day in the United States? According to National Today, “If you’ve never had cassoulet before, today is the day! This could be a great task for you if you enjoy cooking. The traditional dish is not straightforward to prepare and can take some time, but if you want to keep it simple, there are lots of simplified recipes online.”

If I may, I’d like to share one such simplified recipe. Here’s my interpretation of the humble, but hearty meat and bean stew from southwest France (originally published in 2021):

Getting Creative with Cassoulet in California

I hope the weather is comfortable where you are. If you make this dish, let me know how it turns out.

What are your comfort foods?