casseroles, blech...

Comfort food is food prepared traditionally, that may have a nostalgic or sentimental appeal, or simply provide an easy-to-eat, easy-to-digest meal rich in calories, nutrients, or both. Comfort foods may be foods that have a nostalgic element either to an individual or a specific culture.  Many comfort foods are flavorful and easily eaten, having soft consistencies.

Comfort foods may be consumed to positively pique emotions, to relieve negative psychological effects or to increase positive feelings.  The term was first used, according to Webster's Dictionary, in 1977.

compliments of wikipedia.

 

 

we are definitely in that time of year where we eat heavier foods, (i call this putting on my protective layer), adorn ourselves in cozier thicker fabrics (wool, cashmere, and fleece), light spice scented candles to create a more intimate ambiance, and basically start hunkering down for the long, cold winter nights.  i love it all.

 

with two kids in soccer, homework, chores, work, and trying to not feel like i'm losing my mind, how does one find time to prepare all those delicious comfort foods?  magic?  no.  just careful planning.  sometimes i am really, really good at this, but other times i fail miserably and we end up eating cereal.  it's kind of disgraceful that someone who enjoys cooking and eating as much as i do can't throw together a quick meal without having a plan.  this is why i need to attend culinary school.  i simply do not know the science behind cooking.

 

back to comfort food....

 



i am not a huge fan of casseroles.  i remember my mom making this casserole she called chicken cashew casserole.  i loved how it smelled when she sauteed the onions and celery, but i have always greatly disliked cooked celery.  two cans of cream of something soup (one of them is mushroom, i despise mushrooms), chicken, cashews, the cooked celery and you top it off with crunchy chinese noodle things.  what you end up with is this goopy, thick concoction with a crunchy top, chewy chicken, mushy vegetables and semi crunchy cashew bits.  blech.

 

i am also not a huge fan of crock pot meals.  you know the kind of meal where you throw everything in meat, veggies, sauce, dessert, and bread and voila dinner is served eight hours later.  okay you can't really put the dessert and bread in, but the one pot meal isn't all that appealing to me.  i like using my crockpot for one of the items but not usually the whole kit-n-kaboodle. 

 

maybe you are thinking if you don't like casseroles, crock pot food, or one pot meals what in the heck is comfort food to you?  i'm so glad you asked because i have loads of comfort foods; lasagna, beef roast, stuffed green peppers, angel chicken, and soups.  i'm sure there are more but those few come to mind the quickest. 

 

i thought i would share the recipe for angel chicken.  i am sure it has other names, but this is what i call it.  i got the recipe from my really good friend bethy.  i do make this is in the crockpot, but i think it could easily be adapted to the stove top for a quick night meal.  i serve it over rice or noodles, just depends on what i have on hand.

 

angel chicken

 

chicken breast or tenderloins, however many you can eat

1 packet italian dressing mix

1 block cream cheese, i use the fat free kind

1 can chicken broth, i use the reduced fat kind

1 can of cream of chicken soup, i use something else that i will post at the end

 

step 1: put chicken in your crock pot.

step 2: melt cream cheese a little so you can mix it with the other ingredients

step 3: mix dressing, cream cheese, soup and chicken broth together

step 4: dump sauce over chicken

step 5: turn it on low for the day, or high for about 5 hours

step 6: at some point you have to make the rice or noodles

step 7: dump the chicken and sauce over rice or noodles

step 8: pack your face

 

so as promised, here is what i use instead of a can of cream of chicken soup.  it is much cheaper, i am guessing it is healthier for you and i think it tastes the same.  what's not to love?  i got this recipe from a cooking blog 1orangegiraffe.blogspot.com.  just like the developer of this cream of anything recipe, i make up a whole batch and store it in a leftover rice container, with the recipe and directions on how to use it on the outside.  pretty clever if you ask me.

 



Cream of "something" soup recipe

1 cup non-fat dried milk

3/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup bouillon (if you have cubes you have to smash them up)
You can use whatever kind you like (ie, beef, veggie)

4 Tablespoons freeze dried minced onions (I used the minced onions from Sam's Club)

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme (I couldn't find the thyme so I used dried parsley instead)

1 teaspoon pepper

(For the equivalent of one can of condensed cream soup, mix 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 1/4 cup water. Cook until thick)