Icy Temps And Best Yet Onion Soup
Recently, a friend asked me what “frostbite weather” was considered, in regards to the thermometer. She queried whether she should attend a night class, as she was concerned about waiting for a bus in the cold. Because most buses run every 30 minutes, I promptly educated her on the importance of layering her clothing, as well as covering every exposed inch of her skin, within reason.
Frostbite is nothing to scoff at. When temperatures dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or during a very brisk and biting wind, the blood vessels closest to the surface of our skin constrict. This protective mechanism by the body actually shunts blood from the surface to increase our core temperatures, thus keeping us warm. However, this leaves fragile parts of our body, such as fingers, toes, ears and the tips of our noses at risk for developing “frostnip,” or first degree frostbite.
“Frostnip” is what usually happens to our hands, when we forget to put on our gloves. The skin becomes red, and also can become itchy and a little painful. The skin can also become white or yellow. This condition can usually be remedied by getting out of the cold and into a warm house. There usually isn’t any permanent damage, as only the outer layers of skin are affected. However, with increased exposure to the elements, our body’s ability to sense heat and cold becomes compromised. Diabetics and those with compromised circulation issues are at definitive risk for frostbite. Those outdoors for extended periods of time are at risk for both frostbite and hypothermia. That being said, bundle up!
I haven’t ventured out much lately, because of an illness as well as the brutal cold. The sunshine outside my window is a trickster; I brought out the recyclable pail the other night, and was greeted with a cold slap of wind to my cheeks. I fell for the greatest trick that Mother Nature can dish out—just because it looks nice out, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is. Needless to say, I scurried back indoors and made myself a nice cup of tea.
Because I have come down with an awful case of “cabin fever,” my husband offered to take me over to Best Yet Market on Jerusalem Avenue. I jumped at the chance; the thought of fresh vegetables with which to create wonderful meals was the inspiration I needed to face the icy air. Bundled like Nanook of the North, I waddled out to the car with my shopping list clutched tightly in my North Face glove.
The guys over at Best Yet know me by sight now; my husband and I have been weekly customers since the store opened. While my husband is over at the deli counter for his weekend supply of cold cuts, I can be seen perusing the bok choy and testing the firmness of the Empire apples. The price of produce is pretty reasonable, which accounts for our overflowing shopping cart at trip’s end. This week, I purchased a bag of sweet yellow onions. Yesterday, I created a most spectacular French onion soup, which was precisely the right prescription for a chilly winter night.
This winter’s icy blast means taking extra precautions in the extreme temperatures. And it always helps to have a steaming pot of fresh vegetable soup on the boil to take a bite out of the chill, courtesy of Best Yet Market. Tonight’s menu – fresh tomato sauce over a bed of pasta, served with roasted asparagus spears! Yum!
