Cool Weather Comfort

The cool-weather months of fall and winter call for comfort food, don’t they? When I was growing up, nothing spelled comfort quite like walking into the house on a nippy day and being greeted by the aromas of cookies baking or a pot of chili simmering in the crock pot. And not only did it spell comfort, it spelled home.

Certain foods — and the feelings associated with them — are so dear to us that they naturally get handed down through the generations as we try to provide the same homey comfort that we experienced as kids.

I don’t do recipes too often here on the blog, but I thought it would be fun (and potentially yummy!) to share recipes of some of our favorite cool weather comfort foods. If you don’t have time to leave a recipe in the comments, just jump in and tell us about one of your favorite comfort foods.

I’ll start it off with one of our family’s favorites during the fall and winter months — homemade chili. It’s super simple and very tasty. And yes, it’s a recipe of my mom’s. On behalf of another generation, thanks Mom :)

Crock Pot Chili

Brown 1 ½ lbs. (or more) ground beef. Drain grease and put beef in crock pot.

Add:
1 lg can tomato juice (46 oz)
½ t. garlic salt
1 t. onion salt
2 t. chili powder
1 can chili w/ beans

Cook on low all day or on high for 4 hrs. Serve with crackers or fritos and cheese – or whatever suits your fancy!

Before I let you go today, how about a little food for the soul? Remember, the Word of God spells comfort no matter the season. I recommend partaking daily, but for now, here’s a taste:

“I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18 1-2

Flickr photo by House of Sims’

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Comments

  1. I love the smell of chili cooking! You post makes me want to go get some now.

  2. just found your blog via Tasty Kitchen links…it’s so lovely and peaceful! Keep up the great work…
    love,
    cathy b. @ brightbakes

  3. Thanks for sharing the recipe and the Word with us Cheryl, nice to “meet” you on the blogs:)

    katiegfromtennessee

  4. As we’re heading into a cool spell I’ve been thinking that it’s time for chili, so the timing of your recipe is perfect! Although am I losing my mind or does the picture look like a bowl full of Fritos?

  5. No, Kelli, you’re not losing your mind :) You are seeing fritos. Do you guys not have frito-chili pie back east? One way folks around here like to eat chili is with fritos and cheese in it. My family went through a phase of eating it like this, but I eat mine plain :)

  6. Well, comfort food for me right now is anything on a plate. Honestly, I’m the fattest cancer patient in the free world! My appetite is unceasing (I’ll blame the prednisone) for now.

    We adore chili over here; I have my own version, but another comforting favorite is my honeybun cake or pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting.

    peace~elaine

  7. Hi Cheryl, I had to laugh because my hubby will not easy chili without fritos just like the picture you posted! It’s funny but the thought of chili any time other than fall/winter (football season!) is just wrong to me. I need to make up a batch soon, I think!

    Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! I really appreciate that! :)

  8. I’m so glad you visited Live with Flair so I could come back and find your inspirational blog! I love it. I love the Bronte quote, too! What a great recipe for winter months on this post. Thanks, Cheryl!

  9. Looks yummy! I love chili with fritos and cheese.

  10. I fixed that recipe last Friday! This time I added a little cumin and cayenne pepper. And we used fritos and cheddar! Yum! We have enough for a 3rd night of leftovers :)

    I also made pumpkin bread, and it was the best batch yet. Debbie will be happy to know that I think I will make the pumpkin chocolate chip cookies this week!

  11. I love the smell of fresh cookies and simmering chili. The fritos take it to an entirely different level!

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