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The cold may not bother us, but our tummy will surely crave some winter comfort food. Wouldn’t it be perfect for staying inside, snuggling on the couch with warm sheets, and eating hot food? The thought of it makes us crave some snow day food already! So, we’ll not waste any time and present these four delicious and healthy cold weather recipes to warm up your winter!
Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese
Let’s face it: homemade macaroni and cheese may be the reigning king of all delicious comfort foods.
Still, there are plenty of different ways to make this iconic dish, and not all are made equal. Fortunately, we have an outstanding version of it for you today that’s sure to become a new family favorite. Here’s how you do it:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of dry pasta
- 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup of flour
- 4 cups of whole milk
- 2 teaspoons of kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of mustard powder
- 1 pound of extra sharp cheddar, grated
- 1 cup of grated parmesan
- chopped bacon (optional)
- caramelized onions (optional)
- minced chives (optional)
Steps:
1. Boil water in a pot and cook your pasta according to the instructions. Drain it and set the pasta to the side.
2. Put a pot over medium heat and melt butter until it turns foamy.
3. Add flour and stir it in for a minute. Slowly add milk, stirring continuously.
4. Add salt, pepper, cayenne, paprika, and mustard powder, stirring everything in.
5. Add cheese and stir until it’s fully incorporated. If it’s too thick, add half a cup more milk.
6. Add your cooked pasta, stir it all together and serve!
Winter Comfort Food: Scalloped Potatoes
Potatoes are a staple of many dishes because they’re hearty, cheap ingredients.
Still, scalloped potatoes are one of the best ways to prepare them.
While there are plenty of different ways to prepare this simple meal, the way the ingredients combine leads to a meal full of creamy and cheesy goodness. Here’s how you make it:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup of Spanish onion, sliced
- 1 1/4 cups of half-and-half
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 1/2 clove of grated nutmeg
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of thyme leaves, minced (plus extra)
- 3/4 cup of grated gruyere
- 1/2 cup of coarse breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
- ground pepper
Steps:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking dish with butter.
2. Mix your potatoes, onion, half-and-half, and butter in a sauce pot. Bring it to a simmer and cook everything for five minutes.
3. Strain the potatoes (they should not be fully cooked yet) and put the mix into another saucepan.
4. Whisk in your garlic, nutmeg, and thyme as well. Bring it to a simmer and add cheese, salt, and pepper, mixing everything.
5. Layer your potatoes in the bottom of your baking dish and season lightly with salt and pepper. Add some gruyere, more potatoes, and liquid until it’s all used.
6. Top the dish off with breadcrumbs and Parmigiano.
7. Bake the dish for about an hour so that the top caramelizes and the dish is bubbly.
8. Let it cool for 20 minutes and thyme before serving.
Healthy Shepherd’s Pie
If you’re looking for a recipe full of virtually every ingredient you’d ever want to try, this simple shepherd’s pie is delicious.
Aside from all the vegetables, butter, and meatiness, it also comes with a nice fluffy layer of potatoes on top. Here’s how you do it:
Ingredients:
Pie:
- 2 russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 2 turnips, peeled and quartered
- 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup of whole milk
- 1/4 cup of grated parmesan
- 2 tablespoons of chopped chives
- kosher salt
- ground pepper
Filling:
- 4 strips of thick-cut bacon
- 2 pounds of ground beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 ounces of cremini mushrooms, chopped
- 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme
- 3 tablespoons of tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 1 3/4 cups of chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley
- kosher salt
- ground pepper
Steps:
1. Make your topping by putting the potatoes and turnips in a big pot covered with cold water.
2. Add salt and bring everything to a boil, cooking it for 25 minutes. Drain the liquid and keep the pot.
3. Next, cook the bacon in a big skillet over medium heat, cooking for about 10 minutes.
4. Drain the fat out except for one tablespoon, adding beef into the skillet.
5. Cook the beef for about four minutes before adding onion, carrots, and celery, stirring until they all soften.
6. Add your mushrooms, thyme, and tomato paste, cooking and stirring for about three minutes.
7. Add your flour and stir, cooking for two minutes. Add broth, Worcestershire sauce, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and some pepper.
8. Cook everything for three more minutes and add in your parsley.
9. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
10. Mix your butter and milk in the pot and cook it together over medium heat until the butter melts.
11. Put the potatoes and turnips in the pot and mash everything together. Add parmesan, chives, salt, and pepper.
12. Pour all the filling into a baking dish and add topping, spreading it around.
13. Bake the whole thing for 35 minutes. Let it cool for 15 minutes and serve.
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
As we’ve said before, it’s hard to beat a hearty casserole when it comes to winter comfort foods.
In that same vein is this hash brown casserole, a meal that comes with every delicious ingredient you would ever want.
All you have to do is throw everything together and enjoy. Here’s how you make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 package of frozen hash browns
- 1 can of cream of chicken soup
- 1 pint of sour cream
- 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 onion, diced
- 2-3 cups of Kellogg’s cornflakes, crushed
- 1/2 cup of melted butter
Steps:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix your soup and sour cream in a big mixing bowl. Stir in cheese, diced onion, and potatoes, mixing everything. Scoop it all into a casserole dish.
3. Sprinkle cornflakes on top of the hash brown mix and pour melted butter on top of that.
4. Bake the casserole for 45 to 50 minutes. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Takeaway
All these healthy winter recipes are making you crave something warm already! Go ahead and whip up the winter comfort food you like, and serve these hearty meals to your family to keep warm.
Sources: Today, Food Network, Munchies
