Easy Comfort Food

January always seems to be the month that creates the desire for food that is warm, comforting and easy to fix. After all the more complicated and rich foods of the holiday season it seems that simple and warming are the kinds of foods we are all in the mood to eat. The weather also dictates that soups and stews are appropriate additions to our menus. They are easy to prepare, warming to our cold bodies and they invite us to stay indoors in our kitchens.

� 4 15 ounce cans cream style cornServes 8-10As for cooking time as directed by recipes - keep in mind that one hour on high in a crockpot is equal to about 2 hours on low. If your slow cooker recipe calls for a four-hour cook time on high, but you want to eat in eight hours, cook your dish on low.The second recipe was found in a newspaper supplement several years ago. It is truly comfort food and most delicious.A good rule of thumb when adapting a recipe from slow cooker to stove top is to increase the liquid. I would not add too much more liquid in the slow cooker recipe as it would make it too soupy. The following recipe may be cut in half.� 1/3 cup flourExploring vegetarian recipes is great simply to spice up the kitchen with something new. Whether you are choosing to eat vegetarian dishes as a permanent diet or as part of a healthier lifestyle, Vegetarian Recipes is packed with ideas to tempt the most committed carnivore.No matter how good the meal starts to smell resist the temptation to open the lid. Each time you do, heat escapes, and the cooker will take longer to finish your meal. The ingredients at the bottom will cook faster than those on top, but it is not necessary to stir as often as you would a stove-top recipe. Keep that lid on except when it is absolutely necessary to stir your recipe.� 2 cups diced cooked chicken� 2 cups grated cheddar cheeseCrockpot cooking can be easy, fun and really tasty. Check out our assortment of crockpot cookers at http://www.searchkitchenappliances.com/Small-Kitchen-Appliances/Cookers-Steamers� 2 cups potatoes, peeled and cut into ��chunks� 1 cup chicken broth1. Bring chicken broth to a boil in a medium stock pot. Reduce heat and add potatoes, carrots, celery, onion , no salt seasoning and pepper. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.3. Add potato flakes and stir well.� 1 tsp. no-salt seasoning� 2 14 ounce cans low sodium chicken brothMakes 8 servings� � cup butter� 1 cup dried potato flakesTry to buy a crockpot that's big enough to hold more than the normal amount of food you will need. That way, you'll have extra capacity available when you need it unexpectedly.� � tsp. black pepperLast year about this time I shared some of my family�s favorite potato recipes. These recipes were simple, made us feel good because they were part of our family�s recipe collection and just warmed us up. I have a couple of new recipes that are not based on just the potato but they do have potato in them. One of them is a slow cooker recipe but can easily be adapted to the stove top.� � tsp. pepper� 2 cups peeled and diced potatoesHere are some tips to make your slow-cooking better.� 1 lb. uncooked, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1� piecesIncluding a few vegetarian recipes into your diet can quickly improve how you feel and can be part of an overall health plan that will improve your life. And contrary to popular belief, these recipes are full of the taste and enjoyment of many other foods you eat. Incorporating vegetarian recipes into any diet will bring variety and give healthy eating options. Plus, vegetarian cuisine is chockfull of dishes that are robust and flavorful, and a match for any standard meat dish. Such treats as squash with tofu, vegetarian paella, and baked figs with dried fruit and anisette may well convert some confirmed carnivores to part-time vegetarians. Many of these recipes cook faster than those made with meat.� 1 cup onion, choppedMake sure not to over-fill the pot when you are adding ingredients. The experts recommend filling it between one-half to two-thirds full maximum. This will facilitate even cooking and avoid the mess when it bubbles over.� 2 cups 1% percent milk� 1 cup finely shredded carrotsNote: This may be halved for a smaller slow cooker. To make on the stove top add about � cup more liquid. The test for doneness would be the same.� 2 cups 1% milkChicken and Corn Chowder

Makes 8 servings

Author: Jan Duggan