feels like home to me....

Comfort Food: n. Food that is simply prepared and associated with a sense of home or contentment. The term "comfort food" refers to simple, familiar food that is usually home-cooked. More generally, comfort food can be defined as food that brings some form or measure of comfort, sense of well-being, or easy satisfaction.




It's raining.....again. ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT!! Could I please get: mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, tator tot hotdish, a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup, corn bread and fried chicken on the side....oh and a DIET coke. These thoughts make my waistline cry quietly in the corner.

I've been working really hard to NOT want to burn the pictures that will be taken at my little sisters wedding coming up in May. And all this rain, making me want to eat EVERYTHING, isn't helping! THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY!

Have no fear! The days of having to choose between a Beach Body and eating the food we love when it's cold and rainy are over. Ok, enough with the infomercial.

All this started when my girl, KTJ asked me, "What food would you concided relaxing?" I thought it was such an interesting question. You think of food as delicious, comforting, subtle; but relaxing isn't a word I would think of to discribe food. Well, not the actual food itself. We came to conclusion that food itself isn't nessesarily relaxing, but the company and atmosphere can be. It got me thinking about food and the feelings that are evoked from it.



Your Mom's speghetti or chocolate chip cookies, or Dad's lasagna or beef stroganof. [Shit, now I'm hungry.] No matter if you have their specific recipe and make it EXACTLY like they do, it never quite tastes the same. Maybe it's because they have been making it for years and years, or maybe it's just magic. But there is nothing like your parents cooking. OR IS THERE!!!??!!!

I've decided that our own cooking might not be the same, but it can be just as good and healthier than you'd think. For example, the chili I made when it was cold out and I wanted a little taste of comfort was better than my Mom's [sorry mom]. I can't say that it was too much healthier just because she makes her's with broccoli tons of lean meats and veggies. But I will pat myself on the back for this 3 Bean Turkey Chili recipe I made up one night. Let's see if I can remember.....[I really have to start writing these things down.]



Ingredients:

1 md. yellow onion
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 carton sliced mushrooms
3 jalapejos pepper
1 habanoro pepper
1.5 lbs. ground turkey breast
1 can kidney beans, drained
1 can chili beans, with sauce
1 can black beans, drained
1 can tomato sauce
1 28oz. can crushed tomotoes
5 cloves garlic
3 tbs. cumin
2 tbs. chili powder
Salt and Pepper to taste

[... that's a lot of shit]




12 Servings

PER SERVING: Calories: 164.7, Fat: 4.2, Carbs: 20, Protein: 13.3


Basically put it all in a pot and let 'er rip. Nah, kidding. Cook the meat with the onion and garlic until it's cooked all the way though. Then add all the peppers and mushrooms; cook for 5 mins or so. Then add in all the rest of the ingredients. Cook FOREVER.........or for as long as you like. The longer, the better the taste. You could also make it in a slow cooker. That's it. Totes. Easy. Oooh! I almost forgot the best discovery ever! If you like it with sour cream or cheese and are watching you're girlish or boyish figure, try adding 1% or fat free cottage cheese. I'm telling you, I'll never eat chili another way ever again. SO yum.

I think food is all about reinvention. Nothing tastes the same each time you made it. Recipes are great for guildlines, but there is something about having an idea of flavors in your head and just going; sink or swim.


Assignment readers: Go into your kitchen when you're ready to eat and look in your fridge. Grab the things that you like; protein, pasta, rice, veggie, cheese, anything! And just go. Mix it up. It's so much fun! I'm telling ya.


Website of the Week:
http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/quick-easy-comfort-food-recipes-00400000057748/


This is a Cooking Light website that's all about updated Healthy recipes for our favorite comfort foods. I would make any and ALL of these. They look so amazing! Check it out!!