Top 6 Comfort Foods

There really is nothing better than snuggling up with a bowl of comfort food on those dreadful days when things seem to go awry. Whether classic mac and cheese, chicken noodle soup piping hot, or a slice of pie warm from the oven, comfort food works magic on our mood by making everything right again. It’s not so much the food that makes these dishes special but, rather, like a hug for the soul: warm, reassuring, and full of love. Top 6 Comfort Foods to Warm Your Soul

Comfort food is simplicity squared, a powerful tonic for life’s everyday setbacks. Comfort foods make a bad day better without demanding that you be a gourmet chef—all they ask for is to be simple and hearty. If comfort food were a plate, the contents of it would read: happiness—easily prepared, deeply satisfying. Top 6 Comfort Foods to Warm Your Soul

While comfort food is always generally a welcome addition to the diet, it has real value during winter. Cozy meals are more important during this time because you really feel the cold. Still, as winter progresses, another urge kicks in—the urge to make cooking easier. You may catch yourself cooking the same, simple dishes over and over again, like spaghetti or soup. Even a dish as magnificent as soup gets monotonous after some time.

But easy doesn’t have to equal humdrum. Our Winter Cravings collection includes a mix of no-fuss, hearty recipes that keep dinner interesting. These dishes bring together simplicity with big flavors from seasonal produce for the freshest taste. With these recipes, you’ll avoid the winter meal rut and have delicious, comforting food without extra effort. Keep your winter meals bright and satisfying with this collection of cozy recipes. Top 6 Comfort Foods to Warm Your Soul

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is one of those comfort foods that just seems to be universally loved throughout the ages. It’s classic: its savory broth, tender noodles, and juicy chicken—a staple to warm the belly on cold weather. Most of the time, broth is boiled with chicken bones, and not so uncommonly, it’s boiled with vegetables like carrots, celery, and onions for added depth of flavor. Egg noodles are traditional, but any pasta will work. You can either tear at the chicken or just leave it in its respective pieces.

Chicken Noodle Soup is not only delicious but restorative. The warm broth acts as a balm and the ingredients within it, health-enhancing. The chicken provides a great source of protein, while the noodles deliver much-needed complex carbohydrates.

This soup has enormous flexibility: develop the flavor with thyme, rosemary, or bay leaves; add peas, corn, potatoes, and so on for a full meal. Moreover, there is such a range within the numerous variations available today—vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb.

In all, this chicken noodle soup is a classic, very revered. Nothing is more mollifying than a bowl of steaming Chicken Noodle Soup, full of hot broth, tender noodles, and rich, flavorful chicken. This classic dish offers just the right pick-me-up on very cold days or at any time comfort is called for. Just like a breath of fresh air that warms and satisfies one, so a steaming bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup is sure to perk up your spirits and rejuvenate your soul. Top 6 Comfort Foods to Warm Your Soul

Macaroni and Cheese

An all-time favorite, macaroni and cheese, known often now by the shorter appellation “Mac and Cheese,” is pure comfort in every bite. This classic features tender macaroni pasta baked in a creamy cheese sauce, emerging bubbling away, golden, and truly comforting from a warm oven.

To begin with, Mac and Cheese requires only to melt butter in a saucepan and whisk in flour to make a smooth roux. Gradually stir in, pouring, milk into the mixture, and season with some salt and pepper, a touch of mustard powder for enhancing the flavor. The key to it is cheese, where the richest and sharpest taste is cheddar. Stir the sauce until smooth and creamy and combine with cooked macaroni. Finally, put it in the oven until it’s golden and bubbly on top.

Mac and Cheese is a diversified savory delicacy, and this has been prepared in ways different to suit the likings of the people. Some involve stepping the dish above by adding ingredients like breadcrumbs, bacon, or a mix of different cheeses. Whether served as a main course, side dish, or a comforting snack, this is truly a one-dish wonder that satisfies on all levels.

If there was ever a food classic in comfort, Macaroni and Cheese would be it—it’s the food that has been favorite to many generations. Its creamy, rich flavor mixes with warm pasta to create a food that brings happiness and warmth to a meal. Top 6 Comfort Foods to Warm Your Soul

Pot Roast

Pot roast is comfort food passed down through generations of families. It’s basically a classic recipe for slow-cooking a large beef piece until it’s tender and flavorful. Brown the meat first, then braise in liquid flavored with seasonings. Falls apart with a fork.

This liquid generally comprises broth, wine, and some vegetables. Onions, carrots, and celery create a classic flavor. Body base, turning the liquid into a rich gravy for the finished braise. Aromatic ingredients like thyme, rosemary, garlic, and bay leaves season.  The braise to make each bite aromatic and full of flavor.

You’ll traditionally pair pot roast with mashed potatoes. Other comfort-food sides include roasted potatoes, carrots, and green beans. This meal gives you a full and satiating experience. The kind of meal that gets one through cold days or lazy Sundays.

One of the great things about pot roast is its ease. Brown your meat, add in your liquid and seasonings, then let it cook low and slow. You end up with tender meat and soft, flavorful vegetables, all prepared in one pot. The comforting smell wafts through your home, making the wait well worth it.

Fried Chicken

Fried chicken—fried food—has been one of the gustatory pleasures that man has derived throughout the ages. It is specifically the form of fried food in which components of chicken are coated and fried in a mixture of flour and spices and possibly breadcrumbs. Deep fry until golden brown and steady in all places. The end product: juicy, full-flavored chicken—ideal for a main meal.

Fried chicken finds its origins in a cross between Scotland and West Africa. Farmers and field workers loved it because of its filling and hearty nature; thus, it became staple food for American Southern cuisine. In modern times, people all over the world seek out fried chicken as a comfort food, not just in the United States.

Choose the correct oil when deep-frying chicken. Canola, vegetable, and peanut are best due to their inherently high smoke points. Be sure to cook chicken to 165°F, or higher, as this is the safe internal temperature.

Fried chicken is just delicious in any possible way you prepare it. Eat it as a course along with mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, and biscuits. Or make a sandwich on a soft white bun with mayonnaise or hot sauce. It eats fine by itself as a snack, too. Or as part of a big ol’ feast with family and friends.

Put differently, fried chicken is, for very many people, a classic favorite of comforting food. The crispy exterior and tender, flavor-filled inside make it a satisfying and hearty dish.

Hot Cocoa

Hot cocoa, or hot chocolate, warms as you melt chocolate into steaming milk. Rich in flavor, it warms and comforts with its warmth.

Hot chocolate has a long history. The Mayas and Aztecs used it as a medium of exchange and drank it, though very bitter, for medicinal purposes and ceremonies. The comfort drink of today, people around the world drink hot cocoa.

There are also so many ways to prepare hot cocoa. Some recipes contain only the cocoa powder and sugar mixed with hot milk, while others contain actual melted chocolate, with added spices or whipped cream. For example, Mexican hot cocoa includes added spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, whereas European-style is thick and indulgent.

Even though many people associate this beverage with cold weather, you can drink hot cocoa any time. The warmth inside makes the drink perfect for any season of the year.

Easy to please, in simple words, is a drink like hot cocoa. It is going to warm your body and your heart. Whether plain or with a twist, hot cocoa is always a delight.

Chili

Chili is perhaps the most popular comfort food worldwide. It is a dish that combines hearty meat and beans flavored in rich spices, all simmered in tomato sauce.

Chili recipes range from very simple to very complex. You can make it with beef, pork, chicken, or vegetarian. Common seasonings include chili powder, cumin, garlic, and paprika. Some beans used are black, kidney, and pinto beans. Some other foodstuffs added by many for extra flavor and texture are corn, onions, and bell peppers.

You can top it with lots of things like shredded cheese, diced onions, jalapenos, sour cream, and crushed crackers. This is a great dinner to enjoy during the cold winter nights while watching a game or just a quick meal any time of the week.

Probably one of the greatest assets of chili is its convenience. It is one of those things that you can easily cook in huge batches and cheerfully reheat. It is ideal for families or any busy person looking to get their fill. More so, the best service of the chili happens over a bowl of rice or with warm, crusty bread—it’s filling and keeps you nice and full, warming you right through to the core.