My current mood right now…….comfort food and chill. Things are a bit tense and in an attempt to not follow suit I have opted to minimize my anxiety levels and keep things simple. That also includes my need for picture-perfect meals from my Pinterest boards. Usually, I like to indulge in lengthy ingredient lists and way too many steps when it comes to dinner. I’m always up for a challenge and love to learn new techniques in the kitchen but there are quite a few Pinterest fails under my belt and the current climate is more than enough tension for any household right now.
Finding yourself in a similar state? Well then continue on below for my most frequently used comfort food recipes and the wonderful chefs who shared them. They all are the epitome of simple cooking with easy instructions, on-hand ingredients and can be adapted to suit what you have on hand. Stay at home orders or not, we all deserve a quick, hearty meal that allows us to get back to enjoying life…..or in my case, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp.
1. CHICKEN THIGHS AND POTATOES
RECIPE: Greek Chicken and Potatoes
CHEF: Dinner At The Zoo
After so many fails with baked drumstick recipes and a complete lack of interest with chicken breasts, I stumbled across this recipe shortly after moving into our house and not a single month has gone by without this recipe finding its way onto our plates. It is the perfect weeknight meal and if prepped the day before can find its way into the oven with little effort. What really made this recipe stand out for me is the end result looked just as mouth-watering as the professional pictures on the blog.
2. COCONUT CHICKPEA CURRY AND RICE
RECIPE: 5 Ingredient Coconut Curry
CHEF: Pinch of Yum
I could double this recipe or even triple it and still won’t be able to portion it out for more than 3 days. It cooks up in no time at all and is so incredibly yummy. If I’m feeling super fancy I cook jasmine rice to go along with but more often than not its the rice in a bag and dinner is served. Although my husband nibbles off my plate it, unfortunately, doesn’t offer up enough protein for his meal plan so this is usually a solo dinner option…..which makes the longevity of the meal even worse.
3. WHITE BEAN KALE & HERB SOUP
RECIPE: Creamy White Bean Soup W/ Kale, Rosemary & Lemon
CHEF: The First Mess
The scent of onions, garlic and rosemary will usually stop my hubby dead in his tracks and call him to the kitchen to see what’s going on. I don’t blame him as these three starting ingredients are quite aromatic and delicious in whatever you use them in. I will highly recommend fresh rosemary for this one too. I’ve done it with the dried in a pinch before and the husband-effect wasn’t the same but if that is all you have you will still end up with a delicious soup. I even talked about it so much I had to make it for my parents and an employee. It was hit there as well. Something about blending half the soup really makes it filling. Again, this is so adaptable. One go-round I sprinkled sauteed chorizo and parmesan cheese on top with a super large slice of crusty bread…...it was not a mistake. Another time all I had was frozen spinach and the soup was still delicious.
4. CHOCOLATE CHIP CHICKPEA BLONDIES
RECIPE: Flourless Chocolate Chip Chickpea Blondies
CHEF: Ambitious Kitchen
The idea of a healthy dessert has intrigued me for years. From black bean brownies to decadent treats made from avocados, I’ve always wanted to give it a try. When I finally gave it a shot I used another recipe for a baked oatmeal option and unfortunately the only thing it was good for was helping mom and dad’s bowels move after a long vacation away and even longer flight. EEEks. So when I decided to jump back in I started with this recipe and I am so happy I did. First off, it was super easy and when I pulled the dish out of the oven it was thoroughly cooked and looked like a blondie. I knew I found the one after I tasted it. And despite my husband giving me a strange look after finding out about the ingredients, I woke up to more than two squares missing from the tray the next morning. Another huge win for me is the overall cost of the dessert. From the inexpensive cans of chickpeas to a great deal we found on maple syrup, this recipe didn’t even cost us $5 bucks a tray. Trust me when I say I will be holding on to this recipe for when the little ones arrive and I’m at my wits end with getting them to eat healthily.
(Images courtesy of pinchofyum.com|ambitiouskitchen.com|dinneratthezoo.com|thefirstmess.com|pinterest)
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