Mmmm…comfort food

So, we have another cold front going through the area.  In fact, there are freezing rain advisories for the northern parts of Houston tonight.  Sounds like the perfect night for osso buco!

Osso buco usually describes braised veal shanks, but I was able to find beef shanks for a reasonable price at Whole Paycheck.  (I was considering Roman-style braised oxtails, but they were more expensive than the beef shanks.  What gives?!)  With these, I’m cheating: I bought pre-made braising base at Williams-Sonoma (full disclosure, as always: I am a sales associate at W-S, but all opinion regarding product is mine) and I’m cooking them in the slow cooker.  Matt will have dinner when he gets home from work, and I’ll have my dinner for Tuesday.  I’ll just need to cook up some polenta tonight when I get home.  Pictures are forthcoming.  I can’t wait for marrow.  Mmmm…marrow.

Other items I’m in the mood to make: homemade baked macaroni and cheese, and quiche.  (What?  I have French blood in me, plus it reheats well.)  I also want to roast an entire chicken (said chicken is sitting in the fridge right now, waiting for its date with some compound butter and my chicken roaster).  A batch of marinara sauce needs to be made, too, and if I get another chicken, stock. 

(Ooooh, the chicken stock I made a few weeks ago is wonderful!  I used it to cook rice this weekend and it was so delicious!)

I also need to bake some cookies and freeze them.  Or bring them to the office and the store.  Or send them with Matt to his office.  Or all of the above.

So with the advent of our cold weather (trust me, this is not very normal for Houston), what is everyone making?