Disclosure: I’m part of the Finish Power & Free Alliance of Moms and received complimentary product samples to facilitate this review, as well as compensation. The opinions expressed here are my own. Here in the Northeast, our year started off with a flurry of snowstorms and bone-chilling temperatures sparked by the ubiquitous Polar Vortex. While my family loves winter activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, we also enjoy hunkering down with a hearty meal in front of a roaring fire when the temperatures plummet and winds begin howling. Food plays an enormous role in our lives. So much so that my husband and I view both cooking and eating as significant activities. In fact, as 2014 began, I resolved to cook more hearty vegetarian fare at least once a week and when the air turned frigid, I used it as an opportunity to explore more soups and stews.