With the weather being all over the place these days, comfort food has been what I’ve craved. What’s considered comfort food? Everyone may have a different opinion but it can be a variety of different things.
It can be something that reminds you of your childhood, maybe a meal based on the region you live/grew up in, or it can just be a dish that makes you smile with each bite. This week, I thought I’d share some dinner recipes that are comforting to me and I think will make everyone smile.
Angela Hardesty (Colorado Springs, CO) thinks her Baked Ziti With Italian Sausage and Eggplant is an “awesome dish” and I couldn’t agree more.
Baked ziti is delicious with layers of marinara, pasta, and cheese. This recipe uses a homemade Italian sausage meat sauce that’s hearty and perfectly seasoned. I love adding pan-fried eggplant to the layers. The eggplant and pasta absorb the meat sauces Italian flavor. Super cheesy, serve this baked ziti with garlic bread for a tasty family meal.
Sticking with Italian flavors, Marianne Reiner’s Round Steak Pizzaiola sounds fancy but is rather simple.
“This is a quick and easy meal ready in less than an hour,” shares Marianne. “Can serve with mashed potatoes or pasta.”
In this recipe, thinly sliced round steak is cooked with a well-seasoned homemade tomato sauce that’s filled with Italian flavors. Round steak is great for recipes that are braised (cooked in liquid) because it becomes tender as it’s slowly cooked. Once cooked, the steak is super flavorful.
Serve over pasta, with an extra sprinkle of Romano cheese and some fresh parsley, for Italian take-out at home.
If you make Cassie’s Comforting Chicken & Noodles, the slow cooker does all the work. The hardest part is shredding the chicken once cooked.
“I made this easy, tasty meal for my mom to help out while ill,” explains Cassie. “She loved it. It’s hearty and comforting.”
Rich and delicious, cooking the chicken low and slow for several hours makes it tender. The noodles take on the flavor of the chicken and the creamy soup to make the whole pot irresistible. Even your pickiest eater will clean their plate.
Janet Crow’s (Quinwood, WV) Mama’s Chicken Pie is a chicken recipe that has very simple ingredients, is easy to make, and oh so delicious.
“This is one of our favorite chicken pies,” says Janet. “When my son would come home from a tour of duty as a Marine, this is the one thing he requested to eat every time.”
There are no veggies in the filling of this pie, just chicken. So if your kids refuse veggies they’ll probably devour this meal. The crust is layered into the pie which is different but it’s what holds the pie together. Very yummy!
To me, there’s nothing more comforting than meatloaf. It takes me back to my mom’s kitchen. Sandra Ann Marie Harvey (Dallas, PA) shared her recipe for Brown Sugar Glazed Meatloaf that’s delish.
“My family loves this meatloaf and asks me to make it often,” reveals Sandra. “Though there are so many great ways to make meatloaf this one is our favorite.”
The combination of three types of meat (pork, beef, and veal) gives a wonderful blend of flavors to the meatloaf. What makes the dish, though, is the brown sugar glaze. It makes a lovely sweet crust that’s a fantastic contrast to the savory flavors of the meat. Comfort food at its best.
Pull out your sweatpants and plan for some comforting dinners this week. When you’re having a bad day or want a little pick-me-up, what’s your go-to comfort food? Share a link to the recipe below. Happy Pinching!