With all due respect to the residents of Florida, 39 degrees as a high temperature in January is a heat wave compared to the daytime high of 9 degrees that we suffered through today. I was born and raised in Hawaii, but now live in Wisconsin, so I understand that all things are relative in the weather department. I also know the power of a warm meal on a cold day… regardless of how you define “cold.”
The following recipes are among my favorite “comfort foods.” They can take the biting sting out of an icy day with minimal prep time and not a lot of culinary skill:
CHEESEBURGER SOUP
Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups cooked diced potatoes
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese
Diced tomato
Chopped scallions
Chopped dill pickle
Directions:
In large skillet, brown beef. Add vegetables. Cook until tender. Season with garlic salt and pepper. Stir in flour and cook for a minute or two. Add milk and broth. Bring to a boil whisking often until it starts to thicken.
Turn down heat, stir, heavy cream, potatoes and cheese and stir over low heat until bubbly.
Serve in bowls topped with diced tomato, scallions, and chopped dill pickle.
DOWN HOME CREAMY PORK CHOPS
Ingredients:
6 boneless pork loin chops
3 cups sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 can reduced fat cream of mushroom soup
1/2 teaspoon reduced sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon sage
1/2 cup fat free sour cream
1 teaspoon canola oil
1/4 cup water
1/8 cup pepper
Directions:
Brown chops on both sides in 1 teaspoon canola oil. Cook about 4 minutes on each side. Remove from skillet.
In same skillet, add onion and mushrooms, cook about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Stir in soup, water, soy sauce, sage and pepper, and mix well. Heat to boiling and return chops to skillet, spoon some of the sauce over chops. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 12 to 15 minutes.
Stir in sour cream until well blended, and stir just until hot.
Serve chops with mushroom mixture.
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