Archive for Comfort Food

Sneak-Peek into Our Comfort Cookbook: Southern Peach Cobbler

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Kelly Rusin1 signature Sneak Peek into Our Comfort Cookbook: Southern Peach CobblerSouthern Peach Cobbler RE Sneak Peek into Our Comfort Cookbook: Southern Peach CobblerHappy 2012 everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday and is ready for new and exciting adventures this year!

This past Christmas I decided to give the new Mr. Food Test Kitchen Comfort Cookbook out as gifts to some of my family and friends. Some had to be mailed but others were accompanied by one of the yummy dishes in the book, made by yours truly, which turned out to be a great idea!

Shortly after New Year’s I received an email from my cousin Janeen who said her 12 yr. old spunky little red-headed daughter Bekah wanted to make a recipe from the new book.

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30 Healthier & Diet-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes

Monday, January 9th, 2012

Sarah Schiear1 signature 30 Healthier & Diet Friendly Comfort Food RecipesNot Fried Fried Chicken RE 30 Healthier & Diet Friendly Comfort Food RecipesI know what you’re thinking: Comfort food and dieting aren’t two things that go together like, spaghetti and meatballs…or peanut butter and jelly, right?

Wrong! Enter our latest collection of 30 Healthy Recipes for Comfort Foods.  I got with our Test Kitchen and we put this collection together to prove that dieting and eating healthier doesn’t have to mean giving up on our favorite feel-good dishes.

I have to admit, I was skeptical of recipes like our Not Fried “Fried” Chicken. When we tested these recipes, that was one that I was especially excited to try. Would it be crispy and crunchy – the way fried chicken is supposed to taste? Would it be juicy and flavorful?

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No Bones About It: 15-Minute Homemade Chicken Soup

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Helayne Rosenblum signature No Bones About It: 15 Minute Homemade Chicken SoupHelaynes Chicken Soup 300x225 No Bones About It: 15 Minute Homemade Chicken SoupMy nest is empty… It’s just me and my husband, my time is limited and my stress levels are high. Does that sound familiar?

Well if it does, a soothing bowl of chicken soup is in order.

Of course, I know my mother would start with a fresh cut up whole chicken and soup greens and let it all simmer on the stove until it was fully cooked. Now truly… It doesn’t take that long to do that, and when I’m feeling in the mood, I absolutely do make it that way. But by the time I get home from work…after a long day and long drive home…do I really want to start from scratch and also have to remove the chicken from the bones and strain everything?

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A Very Special Breakfast

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

This past week I had to take my mom to the doctor. You see, she’s in her early eighties (just a kid) and although in pretty good shape, during a routine check-up they discovered a blockage in her carotid artery. Being a tough woman who had two bouts with cancer and thankfully won them both years ago, my mom said it was probably no big deal.

So early the morning of her follow-up appointment I went to pick her up. Since we had plenty of time, I asked her if sheOverstuffed Mediterranean Omelet RE A Very Special Breakfast ate breakfast yet. When she said no, I offered to make it for her. I rummaged through her refrigerator and chopped up some veggies, added some cheese that was one step away from a science experiment and made her a big fluffy omelet. As I was making it, she kept watching me with a smile on her face. I toasted up some rye bread, put on a pot of coffee and we sat down to eat.

I couldn’t believe how relaxed she was as we sat there eating knowing when we were done we were meeting with her thoracic surgeon. I wondered, “How can she be so calm and easy-going?” As we were eating, she reminded me that years ago she remembers me making her breakfast before she went to the her cancer doctor. During that visit she found out that the surgery and radiation treatment was a complete success and she was cancer-free. She figured that me making breakfast for her this morning would also bring her that same good luck.

Well, within the hour we were at the doctor’s and after reading the x-rays and doing a thorough exam he said she was good to go and he should do another follow-up appointment in 6 month. She sat there for a few moments, with a sigh of relief. As we were leaving, she said how lucky she was but went on to share that she knew everything would be okay. On the way home, she accredited the breakfast as what gave her the courage. It wasn’t the eggs or the well-aged cheese but the comfort that came with it.  Making my mom happy by simply making her breakfast made me feel better — and the good news from that appointment will be something we will hopefully share for many more years to come.

Do you have a memory of a time when food comforted you? Maybe it’s eating a pint of Haagen-Dazs right out of the tub or eating fresh-picked tomatoes from the garden. I would love to know, so please share.

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Food is Comfort

Friday, July 22nd, 2011

Working at Mr. Food, we all have something in common…each one of us loves food. That’s just one of the reasons I love where I work.

Everyone has a different connection to food. Food does something to you. It can bring back a childhood memory. Maybe it reminds you of your first date with your spouse. It can also be of comfort to you. Ever reached for a pint of Ben & Jerry’s after a bad breakup? I have heard from “friends” that it can be quite effective.

Dear friends of mine are going through a particularly rough time right now. Her and her hubby both work full-time, have 2 beautiful young children and very busy schedules. So, when one of them is out of commission, it’s rough.

Yankee Doodle Macaroni Casserole RE Food is Comfort

What's more comforting than this?

That would be too simple…both of them are now temporarily sidelined. The first question is… “What can I do?” Aside from helping to watching the kids, my first instinct is to feed them! Another friend of mine and I went to the store and picked up some groceries. Her refrigerator and cabinets were stocked, but she needed convenience. We picked up stuff like roasted chicken, mac and cheese and desserts…comfort food. When I went the following day to visit my girlfriend in the hospital, I asked what I could bring her; magazines, books, good coffee, a decent meal…since hospital food is so delicious. Do you know what she wanted? She wanted a bologna sandwich…that’s it. She ate that sandwich with a smile on her face. That bologna sandwich brought her comfort, even if for only a minute.

Oven Roasted Chicken RE Food is Comfort

Another comfort classic: Roasted Chicken

The following day, my son was home sick. There is never a dull moment! Once he was feeling well enough to eat, I made him buttered noodles with “shaker cheese.” (This is what he has called Parmesan cheese since he was little, so the name has stuck in our house.) Then he got comfy on the couch under a blanket, with our dog on his lap and watched a movie. If that’s not comfort, I don’t know what is.

Wait until you see Mr. Food’s newest cookbook; it’s all about comfort. I am not sure if I was supposed to tell you that, so please don’t tell my boss! icon wink Food is Comfort

We all do what we can at a time when people need comfort. Is there a particular food that brings you comfort?

By Sarah Skerrett, Mr. Food Editor

Casseroles can be made year-round, and these easy one-pot dishes are always a family favorite. If you don’t have many casserole recipes filed under “C” in your cookbook, rest assured: Mr. Food & co. have compiled our all-time favorite easy casserole recipes in one convenient (and free!) eCookbook!

eBook BlueRibbonCasseroles Mini a Free eCookbook: Blue Ribbon Casseroles: 23 Easy Casserole Recipes

Blue Ribbon Casseroles: 23 Easy Casserole Recipes” features delicious casseroles for all types of tastes, including chicken & turkey, meat, seafood and vegetarian/meatless varieties. The ultimate in comfort food, casseroles are simple, satisfying meals you can serve as a main dish or side. With this Blue Ribbon Casseroles eCookbook, you’ll never be without quick and delicious dinner ideas for your family!

While my personal history with casserole got off to a rocky start as a kid (involving an atrocious tuna noodle casserole and “no thank you” helpings), I’m now a big fan of casseroles – particularly any that are heavy on cheese. The Crunchy Turkey Bake is my favorite recipe in “Blue Ribbon Casseroles” with its crunchy French-fried onion topping and sharp Cheddar cheese.

Crunchy Turkey Bake RE Free eCookbook: Blue Ribbon Casseroles: 23 Easy Casserole Recipes

Ingredients
  • 1 pound leftover cooked turkey, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
  • 2 (15-ounce) cans mixed vegetables, drained
  • 1 (10-3/4-ounce) condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 1 cup French-fried onions (from a 2.8-ounce can)

Drooling yet?? Click here for the full Crunchy Tuna Bake recipe on Mr. Food! Better yet, download your own “Blue Ribbon Casseroles” eCookbook now for all 23 easy casserole recipes!