Now that snow is on the ground and the temperature is falling faster, I'm all over the comfort foods. Thanksgiving was just a formal excuse to indulge in foods that make my tummy happy and keep me warm. Plus, I seem to always be chilled so if food warms me up, bring it on! And once daylight savings kicks in, I'm all over eating these foods whenever I can, for multiple days in a row if necessary.
I've listed below a few of my favorite fall foods. What are some of your favorite comfort foods? I'm always looking for new ones to add into my rotation, mostly so I don't get tired of my favorites :)
Chili
I never used to be a huge chili fan, but my stepmom has an awesome recipe. I love throwing some cheese and sour cream on top of her no bean chili and curling up on the couch. In fact, the colder it gets, the more I crave this dish. I already requested that my stepmom makes a huge pot of this over Christmas. I smell leftovers!
Macaroni and cheese
I grew up with my mom making mac and cheese with hot dogs, and now I have found some restaurants here that actually have baked macaroni and cheese on their menu, which is like heaven in a bowl. I don't know what actually goes into the baking, but with a layer of melted cheese on top, I highly recommend it. In fact, here's a picture of baked mac and cheese from the Halsted Bar & Grill. This is worth going out in the snow.
Soup
We have an Au Bon Pain in my office building so once it gets cold out, I practically live there on Fridays, rotating between my favorite soups (of course accompanied by a soft baguette). I highly recommend the clam chowder, cheese and broccoli or the corn chowder. A local Chicago restaurant, Heaven on Seventh, also does a lovely shrimp corn chowder on Fridays. That is really good too.
Reader note: Thank you everyone for your comments on yesterday's post. I really enjoyed reading them and hearing your thoughts and similar experiences on parents and grandparents aging. I was really glad to hear I'm not the only one going through this and having this feelings. So thank you :) It really helped.
51 comments:
Oh yum. Now I am hungry...and wishing we had an Au Bon Pain at my workplace.
oh I LOVE chili!!! i could eat it once a week if it wouldn't make me get tired of it. so i try and have it once a month --even in the summer! chili on hot dogs, chili with fritos and shredded cheese...
CHILI CHILI CHILI!!!
oh and mac N cheese! and grilled cheese!!! and corndogs :)
mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Red beans and rice. Its one of the few things I make myself that I pig out on.
I love chili with cheese and sour cream. So good. Even canned chili makes me happy. That mac and cheese does look worth going out in the snow for.
Today on my lunch I was watching Ferris Bueller's Day off and it was the scene before they go into the museum that shows the lion statue. I was thinking why does that look familiar to me. Well it took a couple of minutes, but I then remembered that it is your signature picture on your blog.
I'll go for soup ANY day! But mac and cheese? For some reason I can only eat Kraft. I don't like how any other kinds taste.
I crave chili ALL the time now. Once it gets cold, I could eat chili all day, every day. I crave hot chocolate all the time, too. Oh man, I really want some now..
Mac & Cheese!!! Yes, yes, YES!!! Especially if it's baked! Oh man, my mouth is watering now...
Holy crap that mac and cheese looks good.
Oh my god I had a cheesegasm! I want that mac and cheese!!!
ALL OVER the WARM food!!
(And hot tea faves-Apple Cinnamon and Lemon Zinger)
I love soup. (Progresso cuz I can't cook)
One of my winter faves is tomato soup and a grilled cheese! Yum-Meeee!!
I love chili. One of my favorite cold weather meals is stuffed pepper soup. Its so much easier than making actual stuffed peppers. Its delicious and now I want some....I'm pretty sure my stomach just growled.
Oh man, the baked mac & cheese is the best!!!!! It's a real deal!!!
I love Au Bon Pain - I used to eat there everytime I went to shopping at the mall in NJ (Short Hills) but we don't have it where I live :(
You guys have snow? Awww enjoy!
I could totally go for some mac n cheese right now... or a grilled cheese sandwich. yuuummm.
mmmmm chilli. So good. So rich. So yummy. I vote for that for the awesomest food ever invented.
I'm finding myself getting soup at Au Bon Pain all the time now too, ESPECIALLY because it's right in the building.
Mmmmmmm I love mac & cheese! Next time I'm in Chicago I am totally trying Halsteds!
God I love Winter food. Chilie and casseroles and things you cook in a crock pot. And lasagna and tamales. I'll stop now.
OMG I LOVE Heaven on Seven. And pretty much every other restaurant I've been to in Chicago. You guys have extraordinarily good food.
I think my comfort foods go back to childhood. Mac and cheese, maybe cheerios?
Mmm, i love chili! I plan on making a pot tonight actually. and that mac&cheese looks so delicious!
I love the ABP clam chowder. Which reminds me...bloggy lunch?
Yummy, now I want some mac and cheese. I like to make French onion soup and bean soup with chicken. Both are super tasty, especially with baguettes and brie.
mmmmm Chili! I think winter time hot chocolate is a good treat too! And mashed potatoes!
i love a no-bean chili too with some shredded cheese. yummy.
BUT the one fall food that has become my ultimate favorite meal EVER is chicken pot pie with a cornbread crust. this recipe was on Oprah last month: http://www.oprah.com/recipe/food/recipespoultry/20081024_tows_potpie
and it is AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS.
You pretty much nailed it with the chili, mac and cheese and soup. My fave soups are corn chowders - the best one I've ever had was at a deli here called D'Brian's and it was a crab corn chowder. I could've eaten that for every single meal. I also like all things apple in the fall - pie, cobbler, danish, etc.
I need to expand my soup world. My favorite right now is Lobster Bisque.
That Mac n Cheese looks naughty.
There's a sandwich place near our work that does takeaway mac n cheese that looks like that. Absolutely DELICIOUS...
Yum, that all sounds so good!! I love to eat grilled cheese and tomoato soup. Yummy :O)
Totes agree with the chili and mac and cheese.
Mmm, now I'm hungry.
Mac and cheese is an every day food indulgence for me. But that one you posted a picture of? That looks amazing!
That mac n cheese is seriously making my mouth water. Why did you have torture me with the picture??
I love comfort foods in the fall and winter too! My go to is anything pasta though. I tell myself it's ok to indulge by adding veggies...that somehow justifies it.
This time of year I make a pot of chocolate chipotle chili every weekend for weekday lunches. Yum.
Hi! I'm from Chicago too. I always like reading other local bloggers. I totally know what you mean about the fall food. I'm ready for dinner after reading that :)
Mmmm, chili looks good!
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I have a reallllly good smoky baked mac and cheese recipe if you're ever interested... The Wisconsin stuck with me, I think!
Chili, I love chili. I also love that everyone gets to pack the pounds on during winter. Sweaters and coats are my best friend this time of year.
that mac and cheese looks divine. i love ordering it at restaurants. this place here, the yard house, has mac and cheese with chicken and bacon and it is freaking amazing. man now i want some. haha.
I love these ideas....and wow do I wish it was just starting to get cold here!!
Mac and Cheese is responsible for my weight gain last winter so I'm veering away from that one - but bring on the chili!
Can you just come over maybe? = )
Did you write this post for ME??
I love grilled cheese and tomato soup for comfort foods. Or any kind of pasta with gooey melty cheese.
I recently re-discovered Mac & Cheese and now I want it ALL THE TIME.
We actually went to this great restaurant yesterday for the sole purpose of me having it, and they were closed for my Christmas party. I was pretty crushed.
Winter always makes me crave for typical Dutch food: stamppot (a mash of potatoes, and sauerkraut or curly cale, or onions and carrots, with bits of bacon and smoked sausages...) and Dutch pea soup (again with smoked sausage).
I have always wanted to open a cafe that serves soup in whole wheat bread bowls. Doesn't that sound perfect for winter?
The internship I'm doing is right next to a Panera. Soup soup soup for lunch!
that macaroni and cheese looks soooo good!
and you have snow already!? wow! I guess NY is getting it soon (at least the part I'm in).
I NEED that mac and cheese ASAP
Yummy.. I love chili & soup in the winter time. :)
I am so with you on favorite fall foods. There is a place about two blocks from where I work that makes the BEST chili breadbowl! Yummmm! Especially now that it's bitter ass cold... xxxo
I love all the same winter comfort foods. The mac and cheese looks delicious! And soup? I made a HUGE pot of baked potato soup last night. Yum!
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