Last week, I got a note from a reader:
Great stuff but — It’s all about boating and cooking in the tropics. Where are the recipes for the colder latitudes? I’m planning to spend a winter on a narrow boat in northern England- rib sticking stews and soups and pies will be more the go.
Well, that made me realize that yes, I’ve put more of my “hot weather” recipes and “how to stay cool” info here on the site. But we have definitely encountered our share of cool to downright cold weather on boats — ours, our friends’ and on charter. And I do have a number of favorite cold weather recipes!
I originally wrote this for my column in PassageMaker magazine, where it appeared in the January 2013 issue.
My husband Dave and I made our first long distance trip helping a friend move his boat from the Bahamas to Rhode Island, traveling primarily up the ICW. While we started out in tropical warmth, each day the weather was just a little cooler until it was noticeably chilly.
Our last day out, we went through New York harbor, first seeing the New York City skyline from a distance, then passing the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center (this was a few months before 9/11) and the United Nations – one of the most spectacular days I’ve ever had aboard a boat. Despite being cool, we all spent the day on deck, gawking and taking photos.
We entered Long Island Sound as the sun set and the temperature dropped even further. We needed a hot, hearty meal to warm us up. Tuxedo Soup was perfect, along with a tomato salad and some garlic toast.
Tuxedo Soup – named for its use of black and white beans – is delicious yet simple to make, particularly if you’ve had chicken a few days before and cooked an extra piece or two.
Tuxedo Soup
Ingredients
- 1 can white beans (16 ounces – such as Navy or Great Northern beans, not drained)
- 1 can black beans (16 ounces – not drained)
- 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, or to taste (If you don’t like food that’s too spicy, try Pickapeppa sauce – it’s flavorful without being hot)
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder (OR ¼ teaspoon salt)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic (OR 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1 diced, cooked chicken breast (OR 1-6 ounce can chunk chicken or turkey, drained)
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients except the chicken in a saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then turn the heat down and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Add the chicken, stirring gently so as not to break it up. Simmer for another 10 minutes, then serve.
Notes
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Simplify meal prep on board with proven strategies for provisioning, maximizing fridge space, and cooking delicious meals aboard your boat.
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