3 Comfort Foods You Can Create at Home to Nourish the Soul

♥

Written by: Mairead Rodger

Artwork by: Emilia (@milimi.e)

Comfort Foods

This pandemic has us all feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious and yes, perhaps we are reaching for the crisp packets a little more than usual. This is not the time to be punishing your body for craving comfort foods or feeling guilty over any emotional eating that may be occurring. 

Instead, we need to use this time to practice self-acceptance and understand that the food we eat is just another way we can practice self-love.

Comfort foods are often associated with buckets of pasta, blocks of chocolate or indulgent baked goods, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. So, you had a big bowl of mac-n-cheese with a side of garlic bread, followed by a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Don’t think twice about it! Comfort foods help keep you grounded, fueled, and ready to take on any taxing mental anxiety you might be experiencing.

However, we all know adding some vegetables to our plates is never a bad idea. 

Here is my collection of three comfort recipes that combines fresh ingredients with familiar comfort foods. Which means you can eat them to your heart and stomach’s content and find the satisfaction in knowing you’re still treating your body well.

HEALTHY NACHOS

Nachos have always been a comfort food of mine. I associate them with nights spent staying up late with my girlfriends, fighting off my brothers on family movie nights, and easy meals that helped me through the stresses of university deadlines.

There are many ways you can make nachos and I’m sure they will greatly divide passionate nachos aficionados, such as myself. I discovered that as I have gotten older and a little more experimental in the kitchen, I have refined my personal recipe for the perfect plate of nachos and it is my honor to share it with you. 

The finishing masterpiece is a combination of all the ingredients you’re familiar with and a few sneaky ones that ensure you’re getting all the goodness of plants without sacrificing the yummy cheesy flavors we all love.

I hope this recipe will provide you that same warm feeling it gives me. It takes a little extra time in the kitchen than a more basic nachos recipe. So get creative by swapping out any ingredients you do or don’t like. 

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grab a large 9×13 inch casserole dish.
2. Rinse the canned beans in a colander and set aside.
3. First make the chilli mixture by adding some oil to a frying pan and sauté the diced onion on a medium heat.
4. Once the onion is translucent, add in your spices and crushed garlic. Fry until fragrant.
5. Add your rinsed beans to the pan, along with the canned tomatoes, and barbeque sauce. Taste and adjust spices to your liking then remove the pan from heat.
6. Layer your corn chips on the bottom of your casserole dish and place in the oven for 5-8 minutes (until they start to brown and turn crunchy).
7. Remove the casserole dish and begin layering your toppings. I recommend the following order: bean mix, red bell pepper, corn, and onion.
8. Return the dish to the oven and bake for a further 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with the cheese of your choosing. Return to the oven just until the cheese has melted or started to crisp.
9. Take the dish from the oven and sit on a heat-proof mat. Top with fresh avocado, tomato, and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro.
10. Share with a few friends or have a self-care day to enjoy all that comfort foods for yourself! 

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

METHOD:

1. Melt butter in the microwave. Whisk in the sugar, and mix until it forms a thick caramel.
2. Add in vanilla essence and milled chia seed, and stir.
3. Sift in flour, baking soda, and salt.
4.  Mix together until it forms a dough, adding milk as necessary.
5. Once combined, stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Place dough in the fridge for 2 hours. (This helps to achieve a gooey center.)
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a baking sheet tray.
8. Spoon the dough onto the tray, making sure to leave space for the cookies to spread.
9. Place the tray into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven while they are still soft and risen.
10. Leave cookies to cool on the tray for 10 minutes before serving. (This ensures they firm up and get a crispy base.)
11. Makes 6 GIANT cookies or 8-10 smaller cookies
12. Enjoy your delicious comfort food

CAULIFLOWER MAC-NO-CHEESE

No other food gives me more comfort than a big old bowl of pasta. Had a hard day at work? Try a hearty slice of lasagna. A boy broke your heart? Forget him with a bowl of fettuccine carbonara. Experiencing the worst PMS? Look no further than the classic mac-n-cheese.

Through the years, I’ve tried almost every pasta dish imaginable. I’ve even tried making my own pasta from scratch! Which trust me, is not as simple as it looks. Unfortunately, I can never stop at just one bowl of pasta. I always find myself going back for seconds, or thirds, and soon enough I’m scraping the lasagna dish clean with an uncomfortable feeling of fullness in my stomach. I wanted to create a recipe that would allow me to indulge in my favourite comfort food without causing grief when I inevitably eat a bit too much. 

This dish is made to be enjoyed on a cold wintry night. It is a lighter version of the indulgent classic, which means it’s as gentle on the stomach as it is on the soul. Try it next time you’re in need of self-love, and I guarantee it will make you feel warm from the inside out. 

METHOD:

1. Cut the cauliflower into florets and steam until tender. You can do this ahead of time and leave it to cool.
2. Boil a pot of water and cook your pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Try to under cook your pasta a fraction because you don’t want it too soft as it will cook more in the oven as well.
3. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a casserole dish.
4. In a small blender, add your soaked and drained cashews, milk, cooked cauliflower, and spices. Add water and blend in batches until it forms a smooth creamy sauce.
5. Add the nutritional yeast and taste. Adjust or add any more spices you wish.
6. Combine the pasta and sauce in the pot from earlier and pour mixture into the casserole dish. 
7. Top the casserole mix with a combination of shredded cheese and breadcrumbs and place into the oven.
8. Bake until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown and crispy, then remove from the oven, and allow to cool for 5-8 minutes before eating.
9. Enjoy your delicious comfort food 

Enjoy your next night in NETFLIX binge session with some comfort foods. Healthy nachos, and a hearty dish of mac-no-cheese with your favorite soft drink and a cringe-worthy comedy. And for a real throwback to your childhood, whip up some chocolate chip cookies at intermission. Popcorn, who?

Enjoyed it? Find similar articles here!

3 Comfort Foods You Can Create at Home to Nourish the Soul

♥

Written by: Mairead Rodger

Artwork by: Emilia (@milimi.e)

Comfort Foods

This pandemic has us all feeling a little overwhelmed and anxious and yes, perhaps we are reaching for the crisp packets a little more than usual. This is not the time to be punishing your body for craving comfort foods or feeling guilty over any emotional eating that may be occurring. 

Instead, we need to use this time to practice self-acceptance and understand that the food we eat is just another way we can practice self-love.

Comfort foods are often associated with buckets of pasta, blocks of chocolate or indulgent baked goods, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. So, you had a big bowl of mac-n-cheese with a side of garlic bread, followed by a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. Don’t think twice about it! Comfort foods help keep you grounded, fueled, and ready to take on any taxing mental anxiety you might be experiencing.

However, we all know adding some vegetables to our plates is never a bad idea. 

Here is my collection of three comfort recipes that combines fresh ingredients with familiar comfort foods. Which means you can eat them to your heart and stomach’s content and find the satisfaction in knowing you’re still treating your body well.

HEALTHY NACHOS

Nachos have always been a comfort food of mine. I associate them with nights spent staying up late with my girlfriends, fighting off my brothers on family movie nights, and easy meals that helped me through the stresses of university deadlines.

There are many ways you can make nachos and I’m sure they will greatly divide passionate nachos aficionados, such as myself. I discovered that as I have gotten older and a little more experimental in the kitchen, I have refined my personal recipe for the perfect plate of nachos and it is my honor to share it with you. 

The finishing masterpiece is a combination of all the ingredients you’re familiar with and a few sneaky ones that ensure you’re getting all the goodness of plants without sacrificing the yummy cheesy flavors we all love.

I hope this recipe will provide you that same warm feeling it gives me. It takes a little extra time in the kitchen than a more basic nachos recipe. So get creative by swapping out any ingredients you do or don’t like. 

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grab a large 9×13 inch casserole dish.
2. Rinse the canned beans in a colander and set aside.
3. First make the chilli mixture by adding some oil to a frying pan and sauté the diced onion on a medium heat.
4. Once the onion is translucent, add in your spices and crushed garlic. Fry until fragrant.
5. Add your rinsed beans to the pan, along with the canned tomatoes, and barbeque sauce. Taste and adjust spices to your liking then remove the pan from heat.
6. Layer your corn chips on the bottom of your casserole dish and place in the oven for 5-8 minutes (until they start to brown and turn crunchy).
7. Remove the casserole dish and begin layering your toppings. I recommend the following order: bean mix, red bell pepper, corn, and onion.
8. Return the dish to the oven and bake for a further 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with the cheese of your choosing. Return to the oven just until the cheese has melted or started to crisp.
9. Take the dish from the oven and sit on a heat-proof mat. Top with fresh avocado, tomato, and a sprinkling of fresh cilantro.
10. Share with a few friends or have a self-care day to enjoy all to yourself! 

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

METHOD:

1. Melt butter in the microwave. Whisk in the sugar, and mix until it forms a thick caramel.
2. Add in vanilla essence and milled chia seed, and stir.
3. Sift in flour, baking soda, and salt.
4.  Mix together until it forms a dough, adding milk as necessary.
5. Once combined, stir in the chocolate chips.
6. Place dough in the fridge for 2 hours. (This helps to achieve a gooey center.)
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a baking sheet tray.
8. Spoon the dough onto the tray, making sure to leave space for the cookies to spread.
9. Place the tray into the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven while they are still soft and risen.
10. Leave cookies to cool on the tray for 10 minutes before serving. (This ensures they firm up and get a crispy base.)
11. Makes 6 GIANT cookies or 8-10 smaller cookies

CAULIFLOWER MAC-NO-CHEESE

No other food gives me more comfort than a big old bowl of pasta. Had a hard day at work? Try a hearty slice of lasagna. A boy broke your heart? Forget him with a bowl of fettuccine carbonara. Experiencing the worst PMS? Look no further than the classic mac-n-cheese.

Through the years, I’ve tried almost every pasta dish imaginable. I’ve even tried making my own pasta from scratch! Which trust me, is not as simple as it looks. Unfortunately, I can never stop at just one bowl of pasta. I always find myself going back for seconds, or thirds, and soon enough I’m scraping the lasagna dish clean with an uncomfortable feeling of fullness in my stomach. I wanted to create a recipe that would allow me to indulge in my favourite comfort food without causing grief when I inevitably eat a bit too much. 

This dish is made to be enjoyed on a cold wintry night. It is a lighter version of the indulgent classic, which means it’s as gentle on the stomach as it is on the soul. Try it next time you’re in need of self-love, and I guarantee it will make you feel warm from the inside out. 

METHOD:

1. Cut the cauliflower into florets and steam until tender. You can do this ahead of time and leave it to cool.
2. Boil a pot of water and cook your pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside. Try to under cook your pasta a fraction because you don’t want it too soft as it will cook more in the oven as well.
3. Preheat your oven to 350°F and prepare a casserole dish.
4. In a small blender, add your soaked and drained cashews, milk, cooked cauliflower, and spices. Add water and blend in batches until it forms a smooth creamy sauce.
5. Add the nutritional yeast and taste. Adjust or add any more spices you wish.
6. Combine the pasta and sauce in the pot from earlier and pour mixture into the casserole dish. 
7. Top the casserole mix with a combination of shredded cheese and breadcrumbs and place into the oven.
8. Bake until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown and crispy, then remove from the oven, and allow to cool for 5-8 minutes before eating.

Enjoy your next night in NETFLIX binge session with some healthy nachos, and a hearty dish of mac-no-cheese with your favorite soft drink and a cringe-worthy comedy. And for a real throwback to your childhood, whip up some chocolate chip cookies at intermission. Popcorn, who?

Enjoyed it? Find similar articles here!

About author: Mairead Rodgers

Mairead is a freelance writer, self-confessed word nerd, sporadic pilates attendee, purveyor of good vegan chocolate, and eternal victim of fernweh.

She is passionate about creativity and enjoys writing literary fiction in her free time.

About author: Mairead Rodgers

Mairead is a freelance writer, self-confessed word nerd, sporadic pilates attendee, purveyor of good vegan chocolate, and eternal victim of fernweh.

She is passionate about creativity and enjoys writing literary fiction in her free time.