Comfort Food Hits the Spot

Sometimes you just need a big bowl of chicken and dumplings or a helping of rich, gooey macaroni and cheese. Comfort food is usually high in fat, energy-dense food that can be either sweet or savory. It’s almost like a comfy blanket for your soul. Foods like  cake, stews, or meatloaf and mashed potatoes, all just make you feel like home.

Now, there’s no question that this type of comfort food probably shouldn’t be on your nightly meal plan. These cannot be confused with health food! But when you’re feeling a bit blue or just want to have a touch of your childhood, comfort food absolutely hits the spot. Now that colder weather is setting in, nothing is better than to be a blanket burrito on the couch with a big bowl of stew. Lets talk about some favorite comfort foods.

Pizza

Whether thin crust or thick, piled with meats or just cheese; pizza is one of the best comfort foods. The fact that pizza is generally readily available locally; it’s the easy go to for busy families. If you’ve never tried a brick oven baked pizza; you need to! This is a more rustic pizza that generally focuses on the herbs and toppings. There are several outdoor pizza ovens on the market today. Lots of them include a wood fire option. Giving everyone in the family the option of preparing the exact pizza they’d like makes this option exciting for everyone. Remember to pile on the cheeses and saucy tomatoes for a real treat.

Macaroni & cheese

Nothing says comfort than a heaping bowl of gooey mac and cheese. Break away from the box and make your own. Start with a béchamel that starts with melted butter and flour for a nice rue. Next add some heavy cream and good melting cheeses. Choose your favorite Gruyere and maybe some shredded cheddar. Gouda adds a nice smokiness. Once the sauce is blended, pour over a pan of cooked macaroni and mix. Top with more cheese and some toasted bread crumbs and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until the top is nicely melted and starting to brown. Top with bacon crumbles to take it over the top. If you need another great recipe try the smoked mac n cheese from Britneybreaksbread.com

Bread

Nothing makes a house feel more like home than bread baking in the oven. Most people steer away from making bread but shouldn’t. There are some bread recipes that are not that difficult. You just need to be patient. You are going to have to let the dough rise a couple of times so relax. Plan ahead. You’ll likely not start your bread and finish it in the same day unless you start early.

An even easier option is to just pick up a loaf of French bread and slice it up. Top each piece with olive oil, garlic, and cheese. Pop it under the broiler for a few minutes and top with fresh basil for great bruschetta. Mix up some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and pepper flakes for a great dipping sauce.

Pastry

Curling up on the sofa with a delicious cup of coffee and a delicious pastry is the perfect ending to a long day. Homemade lemon and blueberry scones are one of my all time favorites. For most pastries, you may want to find a great bakery nearby. Find a great Greek restaurant and pick up some gooey and rich baklava. Flakey layers of filo dough layered with nuts and drizzled with sweet honey. It’s a delicious treat that can be eaten with your fingers.

It can cheer you up

Comfort food is like a little hug for your soul. It’s all about indulging in something you love but remember, if you’re truly dealing with depression, you need to talk to a professional. You don’t want to use food to put a bandage on something that’s actually broken. But, if you’ve just had a stressful day at work or your partner is driving you a little crazy; wrap yourself in a little food cocoon.