Turn up the heat!

We saw the sun for the first time in quite a while on the weekend, but with variable cloud forecast, let’s just say its appearance was fleeting at best.

In fact, our senses have been deprived in that regard lately, what with bitter cold last month that kept us indoors and the dearth of sunshine we’ve had compared to previous years.

What can you do? You’re either cooped up most of the time or feeling like you are. Rooms seem smaller, silence holds sway and you’re unreasonably jealous of anyone who says they’re taking a trip south.

So why not bring a bit of the south right into your living room? I’m not saying go out and buy a heat lamp, although some people use light therapy to beat the winter blues.

What I’m suggesting is a themed party, something that introduces sand, sea, smokin’ hot food and a dose of summer fun as an antidote to early February.

We were invited to a dinner party Saturday, which, in and of itself, is a great way to minimize winter’s bite. However, this particular soiree featured Mexican food: enchiladas, chili, salsa, tortilla chips, jalapeno peppers, banana peppers, and cayenne to cure what ails you.

Indeed, this is an inspired approach. Research has proven that hot is the way to go if you want to give your system a jumpstart. Spicy sauces and foods that feature peppers and such are rich in capsaicin, which is a colourless compound derived from plants of the genus Capsicum.

Studies indicate that the consumption of capsaicin improves digestion, prompts the release of endorphins (those ‘happy’ hormones!), unclogs stuffy noses, ups your metabolic rate and burns calories. It has vitamins A, C and E, folic acid and potassium, too. Talk about a blockbuster!

The hotter the better is the way to go, and if you have a decent beer on hand or a few glasses of something cool to wash it all down, you’re on your way.

And it’s funny, too, how people react. They’ll load up a tortilla chip with dip that would melt your socks off and then say, chewing rapidly, “this is really good!” even though it’s burning a hole in their tongue and making their lips feel larger than Jagger’s.

It sounds nuts, but it’s a blast. We feasted on wonderfully spicy fare that filled us and fueled us at the same time.

Maybe inferno food isn’t your thing, but if you want to shake up winter now that it’s finally here, turn up the heat.

Hit the hot sauces and jalapeno peppers, fire up the chili and then invite family and friends to share the warmth. It gives the term ‘feel the burn’ a whole new meaning and makes a snowy evening in February that much brighter.