Raking leaves isn't the only thing I view with trepidation in fall. I also dread the cooldown that comes with the change of season, because turning on the heat in my drafty old house is not an inexpensive proposition.
On the plus side, colder weather calls for cozy pleasures like flannel sheets and turtleneck sweaters, along with comfort foods that warm you up both inside and out.
These deliciously spicy Sichuan wontons from the recently released (and gorgeously photographed) "The Woks of Life: Recipes to Know and Love from a Chinese American Family" will certainly take the chill off a brisk fall day. Wonton wrappers are first stuffed with a savory mix of ground pork and finely chopped cabbage seasoned with soy sauce, ginger and Shaoxing wine. They're then tossed in a fiery sauce starring homemade chili oil, raw and cooked garlic, sugar and mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorn. Its authors declare the dish "a fiery bowl of perfection," and I heartily agree the silky, spicy bites are pretty irresistible.
