Everyone Loves Comfort Food /

Everyone loves comfort food
By Casey Grant

 

            Despite people’s lives today everyone still loves having a home cooked meal. However, too often people opt to have take-out because they are too tired to actually take the time to make a home cooked meal. A home cooked meal is something to look forward to and savor. My family loves cooking at home. We like to come up with new recipes and making things that everyone will enjoy.
          When I think of comfort food, I think of hearty meals that fill you up and make you really enjoy the food that you just ate. Some people think of comfort food as unhealthy, but that does not have to be true. You can make healthy meals by knowing how to shop and how to make things in a better way.
           Some people are put off by home cooking because they are intimidated by the amount of preparation they think they need to do in order to produce that home cooked meal. Keep a full pantry with a good supply of all the staples. Canned goods like tomatoes and beans are a great way to cut back on some cooking time. Soaking beans can take hours and canned beans can be just as good. Be sure that you buy the low or no salt canned goods, so that they will be healthier.
          If you have ever blanched and skinned a tomato then you know how messy it can be, if not take my word for it! Canned tomatoes come in many varieties and are already skinned and cut. Using a few tricks can save time in the kitchen, but will not cut flavor.
          You can also add some veggies to make things a little healthier; cauliflower in mashed potatoes, sweet potato in mac and cheese, pumpkin in pancakes, spinach and carrots in pasta sauce.  There are many, many other ways that you can sneak veggies into food and your kids will never know.
           My husband is a huge mac and cheese lover, but only the baked kind and until very recently only his father’s mac and cheese was the best. I made it my mission to make him mac and cheese that he loved, it took me a few tried but I finally got it down this past Easter. Now this is not a meal that is in anyway healthy or that should be eaten more than once every few months, but it is one to keep tucked away for family get-togethers, as it makes a huge amount.

 

Extra Cheesy Mac and Cheese
Casey Grant

 

1 lb. elbow macaroni noodles
1 cup of whole milk
2 - 12 ounce cans of evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 cup of butter cut into small pieces
½ pound of Colby cheese grated
½ pound of Monterrey jack cheese grated
½ pound of cheddar cheese grated
1 pound of Velveeta cheese cut into small chunks
½ cup of sour cream
Salt to taste
1 Tbsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 cup of mild cheddar grated for the topping

I buy the large aluminum pans because I don't have a pan large enough to hold it all, or two smaller ones and split after it’s all mixed together.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the pans with cooking spray.  I put a heavy coat so that the sides and bottom do not stick and burn.

Bring a large stock pot of water to a boil and add the pasta, cook until tender. Drain and run under cold water so that the noodles stop cooking.

While the noodles are cooking, combine the milks and eggs and whisk together. Add the butter, cheeses, sour cream, salt, pepper and sugar until all mixed together. Pour over the noodles and mix until you see the cheese throughout.

Cover with aluminum foil and place bake for 30-45 minutes. Remove the foil and put the grated mild cheese on top and place back in the oven. Cook for another 10 minutes or so until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let sit for a few minutes until it sets up and then cut into squares.