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When you need comfort, you reach for things that are warm and cozy and make you feel better, and that includes comfort foods. Those are the recipes that make you feel happy, safe, and secure. They often reminds us of days gone by when life was much simpler.
According to a report in Science Direct, the term “comfort food” has been around since 1966, when the Palm Beach Post called it “food associated with the security of childhood, like mother's poached egg or famous chicken soup.”
The same report found that 81% of those surveyed believed that certain foods would make them feel better. But contrary to that, most people consume comfort food during times of happiness and celebration.1 So whether you are under the weather or feeling just fine, there’s always room for comfort food at the table.
These recipes will warm you up from the inside out. Don’t hesitate to add your own twists! Before you know it, you’ll be creating a new comfort food tradition in your own kitchen.
As you make the comfort foods that get you through winter’s cold days, remember to keep your safety and security at the forefront. Medical alert systems for seniors are there to help you at all times no matter where you are. From the grocery store to the kitchen, Alert1 has you covered.
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a quick, easy, affordable meal. There’s a reason oatmeal is a traditional breakfast food: It delivers both carbs and protein for an amazing start to your day.
To make this an even heartier meal, consider dropping in bits of apple, blueberries, or even bananas.
· 1 cup old fashioned oats
· 1 ½ cups of milk of your choice
· 2 tbsps. maple syrup
· ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
· ¼ tsp. allspice
· Dash of ginger
· Dash of nutmeg
· ½ cup pumpkin puree
· Toasted nuts or dried fruit (optional)
In a small pot, add the oats and milk. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once the mixture is simmering well, add the spices, maple syrup, and pumpkin puree.
Cook the oats for about two minutes. They should be softened and chewy but not mushy. Taste the mixture and adjust the spices as you see fit. Scoop into a bowl and top with the nuts or dried fruit, if using. Serve hot.
Chicken Noodle Soup
This is a fast chicken noodle soup recipe, made more convenient by the use of rotisserie chicken. It’s one of those things that harkens back to childhood memories of what your parents fed you when you felt ill.
· 2 cups rotisserie chicken, cooked and shredded
· 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
· 2 tbsps. olive oil
· 3 celery stalks, chopped fine
· 2 carrots, cut into small circles
· ½ Vidalia onion, diced into small pieces
· ¼ tsp. dried thyme
· 2 cloves minced garlic
· 2 bay leaves
· 1 cup dried egg noodles
Pour the olive oil into a stock pot and add the celery, carrots, garlic, and onion. Saute the vegetables for at least five minutes, until they begin to soften. Add the chicken, chicken broth, seasonings, and water if needed. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Allow the soup to cook for another 10 minutes or so until it’s all heated through and the flavors have time to marry.
Add the pasta and return to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaves before serving.
Beef Roast with Polenta
Polenta is a hearty but healthier option than mashed potatoes. According to Healthline, polenta is a grain that’s low in calories but packed with carbs to keep you feeling fuller for longer. If you want to get even more of a nutritional punch, choose whole grain polenta. The whole grain option will also give you more of the B vitamins as well as a healthy dose of vitamin E.2
· ½ cup fresh rosemary, minced well
· 3 garlic cloves, minced
· 1 boneless beef chuck roast, about 3 pounds
· 1 tbsp. olive oil
· 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
· 2 cups water
· 2 cups milk of your choice
· 1 cup cornmeal
· ½ cup Parmesan cheese
Mix the garlic and rosemary. Rub it over the meat to make sure it’s completely coated. In a large skillet (preferably cast iron), brown the meat well on all sides over high heat. Transfer the meat to a slow cooker.
Add the broth to the skillet and let it come to a boil. Using a flat spatula, stir and scrape to loosen the browned bits from the pan. Pour the broth and the bits into the slow cooker over the meat.
Cook the meat on low for eight hours or so, until the meat is very tender.
About 30 minutes before the meat it done, start the polenta. In a heavy saucepan, bring the water and milk to a boil. Reduce the heat until the mixture is at a gentle boil, then whisk in the cornmeal. Take your time and do it in stages. Cook and stir until the polenta thickens and pulls away from the sides of the pan. This should take about 20 minutes.
Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the Parmesan. Add a bit more milk if the mixture is too thick.
Serve the polenta on a plate with the roast and the juices spooned over the top.
Spaghetti and Meatballs
There are few things that take you back to childhood as quickly as spaghetti and meatballs. This recipe makes the dish healthier by using whole wheat pasta and turkey for the meatballs.
· 2 pounds spaghetti
For the Sauce:
· 1 tbsp. olive oil
· 1 large onion, chopped fine
· 3 garlic cloves, minced
· 2 12-ounce cans of tomato paste
· 3 cups water
· 1 29-ounce can low-sodium tomato sauce
· 3 tbsps. dried parsley, minced
· 1 tbsp. dried basil
For the Meatballs:
· 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
· 2 cups soft bread, cut into small cubes
· 1 cup milk of your choice (and a bit more if needed)
· 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
· 3 garlic cloves, minced
· 3 pounds ground turkey
In a heavy Dutch oven, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and sauté until soft. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or so. Add the tomato paste and cook for five minutes to blend the flavors. Add in the water, tomato sauce, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover the pot. Let the sauce simmer for an hour.
In the meantime, make the meatballs.
Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine all ingredients, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Add more milk if the mixture is too dry. Shape the meatballs into the classic 1-inch or 2-inch size, whichever you prefer.
Put the meatballs on a rack set atop a rimmed baking sheet. Bake the meatballs for 20 minutes or until the inside is no longer pink and the outside is golden brown.
Remove the meatballs from the oven. Stir them gently into the sauce in the Dutch oven. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer for another hour to let the flavors blend.
Right before the meatballs and sauce are done, prepare the spaghetti according to the package directions and serve.
Turkey Patty Dinner
This delicious dinner brings a little zing to the table through a generous amount of horseradish. This recipe is made with turkey; however, you can use ground beef if you need the extra calories. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, a pound of turkey has about 775 calories while a pound of ground beef has about 1,150.3 Choose according to your unique nutritional needs.
· 1 large egg
· 2 green onions, white and green parts, sliced thin
· ¼ cup seasoned panko breadcrumbs
· 1 tbsp. stone ground mustard
· 1 ½ pounds ground turkey
· 1 12-ounce jar low-sodium beef gravy
· ½ cup water
· 3 tsps. horseradish
· 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
Beat the egg well in a large bowl. Stir in the onions, bread crumbs, and mustard. Add the turkey and mix everything lightly but thoroughly. Shape into four patties.
Cook the patties in a skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the pan if necessary and return it to the stove.
In a bowl, stir together the gravy, water, horseradish, and mushroom slices. Blend well and pour over the patties in the pan. Cook uncovered for about five minutes, until the mushrooms are heated through.
Comfort Beyond Food
When you do something good for yourself, it is the emotional equivalent of wrapping yourself in a warm blanket, getting a congratulatory hug, or having a bowl of that steaming chicken soup your mother used to make.
Whether you’re keeping every doctor’s appointment, wearing an emergency alert system, or taking care in the kitchen, be sure to do the things for yourself that light up your spirit in the way that delicious beef roast warms up your body. Let Alert1 be there to help you, from the kitchen to the grocery store and everywhere in between!
