Beef and Bean Chili

This was my first-ever chili and it turned out really well: hearty, simple yet complex and, most importantly, delicious. I dare you to make this at home! This recipe makes about 3 servings.

Chicken and Vegetable Saute with Parmesan Rice

This recipe turned out really well, and I was also really excited about getting to use my new plate. Technically it's a small serving platter, but who wants to quibble about semantics? The point is the chicken and vegetables were simple but delicious, and the rice was creamy with just the right amount of cheese.

Cheeseburger Casserole

The other day I was really, really craving a McDonald's cheeseburger. Alas, I don't live within walking distance of one, and also I'm usually too cheap to buy fast food. So, instead, I made this casserole! If I did it again, I think I'd leave out the tomato liquid, put a bit less cheese, and maybe half the pickle. But as it was it turned out delicious! This makes one really large serving, or 2 smaller ones.

Autumn Harvest Granola

This granola is nutty and a bit deeper-flavored than the one I usually make. It's a nice change and a good way to celebrate some of the flavours of Fall!

Chicken Caruso

Ah , comfort food! What makes a food comforting, you ask? Well, I think it varies from one person to another, but there are probably some common elements.

Cheese is something that comforts people, I think, especially milder cheeses. They aren't shocking. They're smooth-tasting. Cheese has protein so it makes you feel sated and a little indulgent. When cheese is warm it feels creamy. I think this feeling of smoothness is something common to many forms of comfort.

For many people, carbohydrates are comforting. They're metabolized more easily into sugars than plant foods, and they make you feel satisfied. Pasta is a common comfort food.

Bacon, of course, is deliciously high in fat. It's exactly what our primitive bodies crave, and a ready source of energy.

Many people's comfort foods are things that they ate as children. Maybe it was a special treat; maybe it was a Friday-night staple. But whatever it was, it's all tangled up with memories of being happy, and safe, and satisfied. The food taps into, or fills, a certain emotional need.

I wonder if there's ever been a study done on what qualities foods possess that make people feel comforted?

Anyway, we used to have this all the time at my house, and it falls into my category of comfort foods. It's also pretty easy to make. Go ahead and try it: you won't have regrets! (well, you might, but they won't be about the food)

Dr Pepper Chicken and Green Bean Stir-Fry with Fried Rice

This was pretty good, though I have to admit the sauce is a tiny bit surprising. You have to get used to it...even though it's good, there's something the tiniest bit odd about it. I made this stir-fry because I had leftover Dr Pepper glaze and didn't know what to do with it. A good cooking rule-of-thumb is 'when in doubt, stir fry!'

Broiled Salmon with Dr Pepper Glaze

The glaze on this salmon was pretty subtle, actually, which I'm going to go ahead and say is a good thing. I got the idea for the glaze from the blog An Edible Mosaic, which is a pretty darn cool blog. I did end up making some changes, mostly due to a lack of proper ingredients. You should check out the blog and see the original!