Search Results for: blog comfort foods baked goods

Why Are Comfort Foods So Comforting?

I’ve finally recovered from my virus (I think!), four days of fever haze and comfort foods. And now that I’m thinking clearly again, I’m wondering why comfort foods are so dang comforting? The general consensus seems to be that comfort foods bring up good, safe, happy childhood memories. They’re generally not fancy, not gourmet… they’re familiar, comfortable, and filling. My own comfort foods? Well, as soon as I started feeling sick, I asked my roommate to go to the store for ginger ale and orange juice. They’re my go-to sick drinks… almost definitely because that’s what Mom always gave me … Continue reading →

Comfort Foods: Soup and Sandwiches

I grew up in Hawaii where the mercury rarely dips below 60 degrees. Needless to say, growing up, I didn’t crave soup as much as I do now that I live in the Upper Midwest where the average winter last about 8 months. These days soup and sandwiches are the ideal comfort food on a bitterly cold day. I’ve warmed up with the following recipes for the last decade. Hopefully, you will find them as warm and comforting as I do, regardless of where you reside. PATTY MELT Ingredients: 3 tablespoons butter 2 large onions, peeled and thinly sliced 8 … Continue reading →

Comfort Foods: Baked Goods

Maybe it’s because of the chocolate factor, or perhaps it’s because I grew up eating them as a child and they always brought a smile to my face, either way the following recipes are some of my favorite comfort foods. What’s more, these simple timeless treats are now embraced by my daughter, which makes them twice as nice to prepare and enjoy. BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFIN TOPS Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup oatmeal 2 eggs 2 mashed bananas 1/2 cup white … Continue reading →

Using Food Storage to Make Comfort Foods

As the weather begins to grow colder, many people begin to turn to the comfort foods that they love to eat. The hearty soups and stews, as well as heavier meals that keep us warm in the fall and winter. Many comfort foods are made from scratch or basic ingredients, so it is a great time to utilize your food storage. Many items also go on sale in the fall and winter, and it is a great time to stock up on them. Flour and sugar usually go on sale in the late fall, and canned vegetables will go on … Continue reading →

Pregnancy Reflections: Diet

The word “diet” is derived from a Greek word that means “way of life.” As the New Year approaches many of us will reconsider out diets and make New Year resolutions to improve our “way of life.” When we consider our diets especially during pregnancy, we must keep in the mind the ancient origin of the word; a way of life, and not merely a temporary period of time used to lose weight, grow a baby, etc. I have learned a lot about the importance of diet as a “way of life” in the last few years. My first pregnancy … Continue reading →

Week Twenty Nine

The weeks are really starting to fly by now. With my twenty ninth week of pregnancy came a few changes some of which were expected while others were not. At the beginning of the week, I spent a lot of time preparing for the long drive to visit my sister, brother-in-law and four week old niece. My focused shifted from baby related projects to cleaning and packing. Seeing my new niece reminded me of the demands of an infant. I have gotten so use to my son’s independence and I am realizing that our daily routine will change significantly once … Continue reading →

A Little Bit of This for a Little Bit of That

As the person in charge of your home based business, you have a lot of freedom to choose how you do business. What you may not realize is that this freedom enables you to accept payment for your products or services in a form other than cash, check, or credit card. Bartering goods and services can be a useful tool for your business if you do it correctly. One of my home based businesses is selling baked goods at local farmers markets. On any given week, there is a lot of bartering going on amongst the vendors at the markets. … Continue reading →

Graduation Day Desserts

Whether your child is graduating from high school, middle school or kindergarten, the following delectable desserts are excellent ways to celebrate the milestone. The Simple Seven Layer Bars and Lime Pound Cake recipes are simple to make and can easily be doubled or tripled in case you are hosting the entire class of 2009. SIMPLE SEVEN LAYER BARS Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), melted 4 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 2 (14-ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk 2 1/2 cups chocolate chips 2 1/2 cups butterscotch chips 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut Directions: … Continue reading →

Simple School Treats

The end of the school year is in sight, which means preparations for class parties are well underway. For parents, this means whipping up kid-friendly treats or digging deep to pay for enough goodies for the entire class (or classes, depending on how many children you have). I prefer the former. Not only is it more economical to make homemade treats in bulk, but also, you can tinker with the recipe to accommodate kids with certain food allergies. The following simple recipes are affordable, easy to prepare, and loved by kids of all ages: OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES Ingredients: 8 … Continue reading →