For those who measure the year by seasons: ice, turkey, trout, crappie, walleye, deer, waterfowl — being stuck indoors during a blizzard can feel like punishment.

But fear not.

Winter storms, while unkind to windshields and snow blowers, offer the perfect excuse to hit the freezer and prepare the perfect stay-at-home healthy comfort food: Blizzard Cowboy Stew using venison, though beef works too.

From my better half, Fern Fisher uses an 8-qt crock pot for this easy recipe. There is no magic formula for exact ingredients, you can add or remove as you may, but what follows is how Fern has done it for years.

Take 3-4 lbs venison (or beef) cut into 1-inch cubes, dredge in flour and brown in a fry pan using a small amount of olive oil or avocado oil. While the meat is browning, add the following to the crockpot: (1) 24 oz can of diced tomatoes, 2 cups sweet white onion (chopped), 2 tbsp of minced fresh garlic. Now add the browned meat. Add 32 oz of beef broth into the crock pot over meat. Add 3 cups cut celery, 4 cups sliced carrots or a 1-lb bag of small mini carrots, 4 cups diced potatoes, 8-oz sliced fresh mushrooms, any other fresh vegetables that you would like (good time to clean out refrigerator vegetables). Add a diced sweet green or red pepper. Add salt, pepper to your liking, 3 tbsp of chili powder and any amount of hot pepper mixture you might like. We usually leave it out and put a bottle of Frank’s hot sauce on the table. Set the crock pot on high. Cover and cook for 4-5 hours (or set to low and overnight for 8 hrs).

The stew is done, but to turn this into an even higher protein meal and make what we call “Cowboy Stew,” add 1 can each of black beans, kidney beans, and cannellini beans, and 3 tbsp of red pepper powder. Use a stir spoon to mix it all up. Wait about 30 minutes for the beans to warm. Scoop into an 8 oz bowl, butter up a slice of sweet rye bread. Yum!

If you used venison, and beans, this recipe delivers about 50 grams of protein/bowl with almost zero fat. Beef is about half that in protein with 10-15 grams of fat. It’s even better the next day. Can’t wait for more snow. Time to grin! Pass the word.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoors Calendar

Jan. 21: Erie County Fish Advisory Brd., monthly meeting, Bison City R&G, 511 Ohio St., Open to the public. 7 p.m. start.

Jan. 22: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, Elma Con Club, 600 Creek Rd., Elma, 7 p.m. start.

Jan. 31-Feb. 1: NY Musky Expo, Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, Celoron, small admission, kids under 12 are free, Info: Katia Rivers, 585-668-2550.

Feb. 1: Lakewood Rod and Gun Club, Winterfest Banquet & Drawing, dinner – 3 p.m., Music by “Ion Sky” 2-6 p.m. Info: 716-763-3955