Friends, it’s time to make the comfort food. These recipes will help you create all the creamy, cheesy, sweet and warming foods that bring a little light to dark times. No, these dishes won’t fix anything. But for a moment, things might feel a little better.
We’re in a dark moment now in the United States, faced with great uncertainty and a flurry of things being proposed, talked about and sometimes enacted. Between things happening at the national level and local drama and unrest as well as difficulty in the personal lives of so many people I know, it’s a scary time.
It might seem weird for me to encourage you to cook as a means of coping, but there is something so life affirming about cooking — and feeding others. Cooking is an act or creation, and food is love. So what I am really encouraging is that you create the comfort food that will make you feel better even momentarily, and share it with people you adore. Between the food and the love, the day will seem a bit brighter.
And, on another note, cooking remains the most cost effective way to feed yourself and others. So there’s that too. Also, if your comfort food is cookies but you can’t access eggs, try my recipe for egg-free Oatmeal Pecan White Chocolate Cookies. So good!
Of course, your comfort food may be something different. Whatever it is, make it. Enjoy it. And for a moment, bask in the peace it brings.
Comfort Food for Dark Days
When times are tough, comfort food can give us a little relief. These 14 recipes explore the American idea of comfort food in all its warm, creamy glory.
Is there any better comfort food combination than pasta, cheese and bacon? This Smoked Cheddar Mac and Cheese with Bacon recipe is a creamy, smokey, comforting meal that's also pretty easy to whip up.
As far as comfort food goes, the combination of pasta, cheese and sauce is always a winner for many people. This easy cheese lasagna recipe makes a satisfying pasta dish, perfect for dinner. Plus, the leftovers are excellent for grab and go lunches!
With an easy one-pot cooking method and a not-too-long list of ingredients, this comfort food recipe is easy to make and satisfying to eat.
Creamy, salty, crunchy. This cheesy Reuben Noodle Casserole recipe featuring corned beef, egg noodles, Swiss cheese and more is pure comfort food.
Quick, easy and delicious, these Easy Mashed Red Potatoes are the comfort food you need. This is excellent with my Easy Mushroom Gravy (recipe follows in this list!).
Rich and flavorful, this Easy Mushroom Gravy recipe is perfect for serving with mashed potatoes, roasts and more. Talk about comforting!
Give your favorite comfort food a sweet twist with this Apple Butter Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe. It's the lunch you've been looking for.
Juicy, well-seasoned beef burgers are glazed with buffalo wing sauce and topped with creamy, sharp blue cheese and crispy onion straws and served on a toasted bun. And it's cooked in a skillet, so you don't need any special equipment to enjoy this burger at home.
Risotto has that creamy quality that fills you up and coats the bones. But in terms of it's comfort power, it's more than that: the sheer act of making risotto forces you to slow down and focus. This can be so peaceful, and in difficult times, that's key. If you don't have English peas, substitute frozen peas for this recipe.
Soup is a comforting, warming meal. And this Cauliflower Leek Soup is sensual with notes of sweetness from the leeks, onion and cauliflower balanced with thyme, salt and pepper and hot sauce.
Another option for a comforting soup: This Super Easy Potato Leek Soup. Creamy and smooth, with a slight sweetness from the leeks, this recipe is a cinch to make. Dress it up with fresh herbs and/or hot sauce to make it your own.
Stew often stokes the nostalgia, which can be so comforting. This Slow Cooker Beef and Veggie Stew has a faint French onion-ness to the broth that's also flavored with roasted garlic. FIlled with beef, vegetables and potatoes, it's delightful.
A hearty, aromatic Chicken Leek Stew is served with mashed potatoes in this recipe for comfort food. This one is for all the cooks who find joy in the kitchen.
Creamy and tasting of the sea in the best way, this family recipe for New England Clam Chowder is a comfort food favorite in our house.
How many times, when faced with challenge, do you opt for pizza for an easy, comforting meal? This fresh tomato version is made in the oven and creates a divine comfort food meal.
Tart frozen raspberries and sweet white chocolate chips combine in this indulgent, comforting Raspberry White Chocolate Pancakes recipe. They’re so good on their own you won’t even need syrup.
Make the morning — or anytime — a little happier with this recipe for Blueberry White Chocolate Buttermilk Pancakes. It makes light, fluffy pancakes the whole family will love.
Chocolate chip cookies remind us of childhood. Moreover, chocolate can raise our endorphins. So making the Most Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe just makes sense.
Bite-sized desserts are a fun way to enjoy favorites. In this case, apple pie gets a mini makeover with a sweet, buttery crumb topping. This recipe is excellent for times when you need a little comfort food.