Does weather that looks like this make you pine for comfort food?

Some of us feel as if we are bears, hibernating for the winter.   Maybe some of us have curled up, all cozy in our homes…others?  Not so much.  After all, hopefully, we have jobs and kids to get to school and sidewalks to clear.  Life goes on, in all kinds of weather.

Cold weather whets our appetites for soups, baked goods so the oven can warm the house; those comfort foods will warm our hearts; even hot chocolate might take the place of dessert on a cold winter’s evening.

Does your crock pot or  slow cooker get more of a workout during winter months?  One of the most favored breakfasts we can conjure up with our crock pot is the old oatmeal treat.  I toss in a few raisins, a few apple slices-I add the  skins, too-and about 4 times more water-with a dash of salt-than oatmeal just before I go to bed.  For extra yumminess, I will add a sprinkle of cinnamon.  When morning comes breakfast is ready and it smells so inviting that sleepyheads don’t dawdle!

If you are a working family and want to come home to a ready made meal it doesn’t take much in the way of planning to pop some meat and veggies into the slow cooker, along with some broth.  What a welcoming way to come home when you are dog tired and ready for some good old fashioned comfort food!  If you use enough ingredients, you have the makings of a great soup for the next meal!

Some people find it helpful to use this method:  As you are unpacking your groceries you can take some time to wash and cut some veggies and fruit to be kept in air-tight storage containers or bags.  This makes for sensible snacks and helps with meal prep, too.

Having a batch of rice cooked and at the ready in the fridge will help speed up meal making.  So will having hard cooked eggs on hand.  Kids will snack on healthy things like these if it’s easy and quick.

My kids used to love finding cupcake papers with a few chocolate chips and raisins or nuts and raisins waiting for them after school.  Sometimes there would be tarts filled with warm pudding.  What do you do for YOUR kids that our club members would enjoy knowing about?  Maybe you’ll post a comment and share some of your ideas with us.  We’d love that just as much as comfort food.

We love email messages, too:  foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com

Thanks, guys.  Be sure to leave your name and email in the box in the upper right hand corner of this blog.  That way you will receive the series of cooking tips and the few broadcasts we send your way.  We love keeping in touch.

As you know, the Food Stamps Cooking Club is devoted to the care and feeding of those who use Angel Food Ministries, SNAP or WIC.  We cater to people who depend on food pantries and food commodities and Farmers Markets Coupons.  We also give a nod to those who are doing all in their power to keep to their food budgets.

Connie Baum

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