Comfort Food Friday Round-Up

Okay.  So it is not an October Friday.  It's a November Friday... but I enjoy comfort food in November equally as well as I do in October.  (If we're being honest, I love comfort food anytime, don't you?) 

Last night, we had my mother-in-law over for an impromptu dinner and I served Farmhouse Chicken with molasses cookies for dessert.  The chicken one of Brian's favorite meals and pure comfort food.  Served with mashed potatoes, it is a mini-Thanksgiving dinner.  We even had enough left over to save for a weekend meal.  Leftovers are comforting, too, because it means we get to eat good again without me having to cook it! 

A big thank you to all who shared their links last month.  Here they are all in one handy-dandy place:

Kristin's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

Allyson's Gingerbread Scones

Kristin's Refried Bean Soup

Cheryl's Sausage Bean Chowder

Michelle's Chicken Gravy and Biscuits

Michelle's Broccoli Cheese Soup

Kristin's Sweet Potato Casserole

Kati's Greek Olive and Feta Bread

Kristin's Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

Cheryl's Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Kati's Coconut Mocha Cookies

Michelle's Apple Crisp

Comfort Food Friday: Dessert Week

 Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

The mother of my maid of honor gave me a copy of this recipe at my bridal shower over ten years ago and it is so good we're still not tired of it!

Stir together 1 3/4 cups of boiling water, 1 cup of oats, and 1 stick of butter.  Let stand for 10 minutes. 

Add 1/2 cup of brown sugar,  1/2 cup of white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 3/4 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of cocoa, and 1 cup of chocolate chips.  

Mix together and spread in a greased 9 x 13" pan.  Sprinkle with 1 cup of chocolate chips.  Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees. 

This is the fourth and last week of October's Comfort Food Friday so if you have a dessert or any comfort recipe to share, consider linking up!

Comfort Food Friday: Side Dish Week

Sweet Potato Casserole

I'm not a huge plain sweet potato fan, but this?  This I can't resist.  While it's technically a side dish, it can pass as a dessert or even a main dish in my book!   This casserole finds its way to our Thanksgiving table every year, but it is welcome on the table any day. 

Mix together 3 cups mashed sweet potato, 1 cup of sugar, 1/2 cup of melted butter, 2 eggs, and 1/3 cup of milk.  Spread into a greased 9 x 13" glass pan. 

Mix together 1/2 cup of  brown sugar, 1/4 cup of flour, 2 1/2 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1/2 cup of oats.  Sprinkle evenly over top of casserole.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. 

Coming up...

October 28: Dessert Week

Comfort Food Friday: Main Dish Week

Refried Bean Soup

When I placed a bowl of this soup in front of Brian, he was a little skeptical.  He thought it looked a little bland. Not one to complain, though, he took a bite...and another and another...and went back to the pot of seconds!  It is warm, fragrant, and flavorful-- the perfect combination for a fall day!

Chop 1 small onion and saute it in 1 tablespoon of oil.  Stir in  2 cans northern beans (drained), 1 can of kidney beans (drained), 1 can of pinto beans (drained), 1 teaspoon of ground thyme, a dash of chili powder, and a dash of garlic powder.  Add 4 cups of chicken or vegetable broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low.  Use a food processor or blender to puree soup in batches.  Simmer and serve with grated cheese and tortilla chips. 

What is your go-to comfort dinner?  Consider linking up!

Coming up...

October 21: Side Dish Week

October 28: Dessert Week

Comfort Food Friday: Breakfast Week

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal

My family loves this baked peanut butter oatmeal, but sometimes I have a craving for the flavors without the time (or patience) to wait for it to bake.  While my stove-top version has an entirely different consistency than the baked variety, on a chilly morning this is pure comfort. 

Place 1/2 cup rolled oats and 1 cup of water in pot over medium heat.  Stir in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter.  Cook until oatmeal reaches desired consistency (usually only 3-4 minutes).   Spoon into bowl and sprinkle with handful of chocolate chips.  Makes 1 large serving or 2 small servings. 

Do you have a breakfast recipe that warms the heart and the tummy, too?  Consider joining the linky below.

 


Coming up...
October 14: Main Dish Week

October 21: Side Dish Week

October 28: Dessert Week

Comfort Food Friday (the details)

 

Is it okay to admit that I think one of the best parts of the autumn season is the food?  I love the cool days, cooler nights, and the vividly colored leaves, but I also get excited when I can turn on my oven again without sweating.  The smell of autumn food is simply heavenly.  I thought it would be fun to turn on our ovens together this fall and share the recipes that make us feel good inside-- our go-to comfort recipes.  You know the ones. 
  

Here is how it will work.  Each Friday morning in October, I'll post a favorite recipe from the week's category.  You share your own comfort recipe on your own blog, adding your link to the bottom of my weekly post so everyone can find you.  If you don't have a blog, you can still join the fun by typing your recipe in the comments. 

October 7: Breakfast Week

October 14: Main Dish Week

October 21: Side Dish Week

October 28: Dessert Week

I'm looking forward to the next four weeks of ooey-gooey comfort goodness.  (To include a photo with my recipe, I have to first make the recipe and then eat the recipe!  It's a win-win.)