Wintertime Comfort Food Ideas – The Munir Group – Brantford Realtors

Wintertime Comfort Food Ideas

When it comes to winter I guess I’m not a “true Canadian” because I really hate the cold. Can anyone relate?  So how can we stay warm when the cold wind is blowing outside? With warm, gooey, delicious comfort foods of course!

So when you finally crash on your couch after a long day at work and a cold, bone chilling 20 ft walk from your car to the front door. What is the ultimate comfort food that fills you with the warm fuzzies from your head to your toes? When I think of warm comfort foods I think of soups, stews, casseroles, and warm drinks like chai tea and hot chocolate. But who has time to bust their humps in the kitchen all evening? Not I. 

So I looked up some of the most easy, quick, yummy comfort food recipes I could find and I submit to you some wonderfully filling comfort food ideas that you can whip up in a snap.

Slow cooker Chicken Soup

Ingredients

•            64 oz chicken broth or stock

•            3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

•            3 carrots sliced

•            3 stalks celery sliced

•            1/2 yellow onion diced or cut into chunks

•            salt to taste

•            2 c egg noodles uncooked

•            3 sprigs parsley

Instructions

•            Put chicken breasts at bottom of crockpot. 

•            Cut carrots, celery and onions and put on top. 

•            Add pinch of salt if desired. 

•            Pour chicken broth over chicken and vegetables. 

•            Cook on low for approx. 6-8 hours (will be done in 6).

•             About 10 min. before serving gently shred chicken into chunks (will fall apart, no need for cutting),add noodles and parsley if desired .

•             Cover and cook until noodles are cooked

Slow cooker Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

  • 16-ounces elbow macaroni
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 12-ounces evaporated milk
  • 3 cups cheddar
  • 8-ounces cream cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  • Combine elbow macaroni, milk, evaporated milk, cheese, salt, and pepper in a slow cooker.
  • Cover your slow cooker with its lid and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours stirring occasionally throughout the cooking time to mix ingredients together.
  • Check the mac & cheese to see if pasta is cooked and all liquid has been absorbed.
  • When finished, season to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed just before serving.

Slow Cooker Chili

Ingredients

  •                        1 Tablespoon olive oil
  •                        2 pounds lean ground beef
  •                        1 medium red or yellow onion, peeled and diced
  •                        4 cloves of garlic, minced
  •                        1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce, chopped (*add more for extra smokyness and heat)
  •                        2 (15 ounce) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (**see below for substitution ideas)
  •                        2 (15 ounce) cans tomato sauce
  •                        2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
  •                        1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  •                        1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chiles
  •                        1 cup beer or beef broth
  •                        2 Tablespoons chili powder
  •                        1 Tablespoon ground cumin
  •                        1 teaspoon salt
  •                        1 teaspoon sugar
  •                        1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  •                        (Optional toppings: shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips or strips, thinly-sliced green onions, sour cream, salsa, etc.)

Directions

  • heat oil in the ceramic stovetop-safe bowl on the stove over medium-high heat 
  • Add the ground beef, onion and garlic and cook for about 7-10 minutes or until the beef is completely browned, crumbling the beef with a spoon as it cooks 
  • Drain and discard the excess fat/grease. Then transfer the beef into the bottom of a slow cooker
  • Add the remaining ingredients, and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours. Taste, 
  • season with additional salt and pepper or seasonings if need be.
  • Serve warm, with desired toppings.

Jen Connor’s favourite comfort food is grilled cheese sandwiches, specifically from the new restaurant New Limburg on Nixon Road in Simcoe. It was recommended to her by one of our clients, “ It takes them 30 minutes to make it but it’s well worth the wait.”- Jen Connor

So there ya have it. Some warm, savoury, easy comfort food ideas to get you through those long winter nights.