Given what our landscape still looks like we hardly needed reminding that winter has not yet departed this northern clime of ours, but still we were somewhat surprised to find ourselves trekking through the icy forest trails in the ravine yesterday afternoon in a minor snowstorm. Not much of a storm to be sure, more like winter taking huge pleasure in bringing our attention back to its inclemency and its stubborn desire to remain in place. Nothing unusual in that either.

Truth to tell, the melting snowpack hasn't been too kind to the landscape. It never is, at this time of year when the pure white and smooth blanket turns grimy and slushy and the once-virgin coverlet holds all manner of cellulose-based and animal waste front and centre. The delightful magic gone. The reality of an unkempt-in-appearance forest dominates, at least at foot level. So the new snow covering that nasty embarrassment is welcome, as a temporary measure to eliminate unpleasantness.

Apart from being snowily overcast, it was also cold enough at -1C. We're not getting much of a break in that department either. And what a wild wind careening through the forest canopy! It conspired with the cold radiating from the forest floor steeped deep in snow and ice to make for a truly frosty walk in the woods. None of which bothered Jackie and Jillie.

They kept stopping now and again throughout our circuit to scent the air and every now and again would discern the oncoming presence of those familiar to them, both canine and human long before they made an appearance. Which tends to elicit howls of invitation from them as though they're urging their friends to hurry up and come along so they can enjoy a bit of a romp together.

When we did complete our circuit and return home, it was another pleasure to be welcomed by the homey comfort of late afternoon and the fireplace in the family room. Before that, though it was time for me to prepare for dinner, and this kind of weather simply calls out for a now-routine piping hot soup and rolls to complement it on a Sunday evening. Yesterday it was tomato-lentil soup. Lentils need no soaking, just a quick rinse, since they cook very nicely in less than an hour, though I keep a soup bubbling on the stove for much longer.

Starting with olive oil in a deep saucepan, chopped onion and garlic, masala, fennel and cumin stirred until that savoury fragrance permeates the kitchen, it's time to add the lentils, water, salt, pepper and chopped celery, zucchini and ripe tomatoes, along with a quarter-cup of tomato paste. The stove takes care of the rest. As for the rolls, out comes the bread dough I'd prepared two days previously then refrigerated, consisting of just a tsp.sugar, yeast, salt, a soupcon of olive oil and flour. A simple, unpretentious bread dough.

But then I roll it out to a flat rectangle, smooth Becel margarine over it, sprinkle it with sesame seeds, grate old cheddar over, then fold it three times on itself to enclose the cheese, and roll out to another rectangle. Smooth it once more with margarine, then fold again, and roll out again several more times. When it feels like a tight little ball, I let it rest, covered by the bowl it had risen in. Then it's rolled out for the last time and I decide whether to make traditional croissant forms, or flat rolls, and bake them at 375F for about a half-hour. The result, light and flaky rolls that are wonderfully flavourful.

Ta-dum! Dinner is ready, and out come the strawberries for dessert!