Comfort Foods To Warm You Up This Winter
Comfort foods are dishes that provoke sentimental or feelings of well-being. Perhaps they remind you of what your mom used to make you when you were sick, or the meal that everyone in the family would gather around the table to eat. Maybe you’re using your online cooking courses to develop new comfort food traditions in your family. Every culture has its own comfort foods, and they’re usually either sweet or full of carbohydrates. If the dreariness of the winter is getting to you, try warming yourself with some of these classic comfort foods.
Shepherd’s pie: Not only is Shepherd’s pie a simple way to make a hearty meal without getting a bunch of dishes dirty, but it’s also a great way to use up the leftovers in your fridge. While the typical Shepherd’s pie consists of mashed potatoes, vegetables and ground beef or turkey, there’s a lot of room to customize it just how you like it.
Baked mac & cheese: The only way to make a macaroni and cheese dish even more savory is to bake it. This mac and cheese recipe calls for cream cheese, cheddar and gouda to ensure it’s as creamy as it can be. This makes a great entree or side dish.
Chili: Every family needs a go-to chili recipe, and if you don’t, here’s a good one to start with. With chili powder, cumin and ancho chiles, this Texas chili has a good bite to it, without being too spicy. Serve with a side of corn bread.
Chicken pot pie: Many people are intimidated by the idea of preparing a chicken pot pie, but it’s surprisingly simple, especially if you use frozen puff pastry sheets instead of making your own crust. This recipe calls for leeks, hash browns, onions and peppers, but feel free to fill your pot pie up with all of your favorite fixings.
Beef brisket: The beauty of beef brisket is that you can use some of the cheapest, toughest meat, and as long as it’s cooked in the slow cooker for ample time, it’ll be as moist and tender as a cut that sells for double the price. This beef brisket recipe has some Southwest flair to it, using chipotle powder, cilantro, Mexican cheese, salsa and lime.
Meatloaf: You may remember feeling like the little brother in “A Christmas Story” when you were served meatloaf as a kid. But as you get a little older, you learn to appreciate the home cooked simplicity of this classic dish. If you don’t have a family meatloaf recipe, here you go!
Sloppy Joes: Perfect for a hectic weeknight, these sloppy Joes take less than a half hour to make. Also a childhood favorite, you can be sure that your kids won’t be complaining about having these sloppy sandwiches for dinner.
