Classic Comfort Food Recipes That Will Make You Feel Warm and Cozy

These well-regarded comfort foods should be a part of every cook’s recipe book. Comfort food may be anything, but what makes it so special is that it makes you feel good when you eat it. Foods rich in carbohydrates, sugar, and fatty acids stimulate the brain's reward system subsequently making you feel cozy.
Following are 5 recipes for some of the top comfort food options.

1.Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:
- 16 ounces macaroni
- ½ cup melted butter
- 4 cups grated cheddar chees
- 12 ounces of evaporated milk
- 1 can condense undiluted cheese soup
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 2 large beaten eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika

Directions:

- Macaroni should be prepared as directed on the package and drained.
- Put the ingredients in a 5-qt slow cooker and add the butter.
- Combine 3 cups cheese, 2% milk, condensed soup, evaporated milk, and eggs in a sizable bowl.
- Pour over the macaroni mixture and whisk well.
- Cook on low, covered, for three to four hours, or until a food thermometer registers at least 160 degrees.
- Add the remaining cheese on top.
- Cook for another 15-20 minutes, covered, over low heat, until the cheese melts.
- Top with a little sprinkle of paprika.

2.Banana Bread

Ingredients:
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 2 mashed medium-ripe bananas
- ½ cup oil
- ¼ cup and 1 tbs buttermilk
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped)

Directions:

-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and in a big bowl.
-Add the eggs, bananas, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
< -Add to flour mixture and stir just enough to have a well-combined consistency.
-Mix in the nuts.
-Pour the mixture into a 9x5-inch loaf pan that has been oiled or lined with parchment paper.
-Sprinkle with more walnuts, if preferred.
-Bake for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours, or until a fork or toothpick comes out clean.
-After 15 minutes, remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack.

3.Chicken Potpie

Ingredients:
-2 cups peeled diced potatoes
-1-3/4 cups carrots (sliced)
-1 cup butter (cubed)
-2/3 onion (chopped)
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1-3/4 tsp salt
-1 tsp dried thyme
-¾ tsp pepper
-3 cups chicken broth
-1-1/2 cups milk
-4 cups cooked chicken (cubed)
-1 cup frozen peas
-1 cup frozen corn
-4-shelf pie crust (refrigerated)

Directions:

-Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
-In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes and carrots. Cover with water.
-Bring to a boil and reduce the heat
-Cook, covered, for 8–10 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain.
-Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
-Add the onion and stir until it is soft.
-Flour and seasonings should be thoroughly mixed in.
-Add milk and broth a little at a time.
-Bring to a boil while constantly whisking; simmer and whisk for two minutes or until thickened.
-Remove from heat and stir in the chicken, peas, corn, and potato-carrot combination.
-Two 9-inch pie plates will need one pie crust each, which should be unrolled and trimmed to be even with the plate rims.
-A mixture of chicken should be added. Place remaining crusts, unrolled, overfilling. trimming, sealing, and fluted edges Tops should be slit.
-Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the crust is just beginning to color.
-Before chopping, allow standing for 15 minutes.

4.Beef Stew

Ingredients:
-2 lbs. beef stew meat (cubes of 1-inch)
-1-2 tbs oil
-1-1/2 cups onion (chopped)
-1 can (14-1/2 ounces) tomatoes (diced)
-1 can (10-1/2 ounces) condensed (undiluted) beef broth
-3 tbs tapioca
-1 garlic clove (minced)
-1 tbs parsley flakes
-1 tsp salt
-1/4 tsp pepper
-1 bay leaf
-6 medium carrots (2-inch pieces)
-3 medium potatoes
-1 cup celery (sliced)

Directions:

-Cook the beef in stages in oil in a Dutch oven that can go in oven.
-Add all the meat back to the pan.
-Refill the pan with all the meat. Include the h, tapioca, bay leaf, parsley, garlic, onions, and tomatoes.
-Get to a boil.
-Bake stew with a cover for one hour at 350 degrees.
-Add celery, potatoes, and carrots by stirring.
-Bake covered for another hour, or until the meat and veggies are cooked.
-Remove the bay leaf.

An occasional home-cooked comfort food or a small treat might help everyone feel a bit better about the stress and difficulties of daily living. Never feel guilty about consuming comfort foods because they are fantastic for obvious reasons.