Thanks to those of you who have checked in via email and comments, to let us know that you are ok, despite this massive storm that has moved through your area. We continue to watch the news and are thinking about all of you. What a storm. 🙁
Since today is Halloween, I decided to share some fun blog posts from other people! These are some of the blogs that I read regularly, and don’t share them often enough with all of you. (And then scroll to the bottom of the post for a chance to win a treat from us!)
Want to see how some zoo animals react to pumpkins and masks and other Halloween celebrations? (I like the baby Cheetah trying to hide behind the pumpkin. Although the monkey and mask is cute, too.)
Here are some cute dinner ideas. (I like the Rice Krispie Candy Corn Cupcakes and the Mummies in a Blanket.)
My favorite food blog is the one my dear friend Monica writes. You might want to check out her:
Whole Grain Maple Pumpkin Spice Donuts (good any time this fall)
Overnight Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (and her other flavors of overnight oatmeal)
Hot Spiced Drinks (yum – hot apple cider!)
Maple Pumpkin Spiced Lattes (made in your slow cooker)
Baked Potato Soup (can also use leftover mashed potatoes. I made this last winter and it’s delicious.)
Of course she has tons of non-fall recipes, too. Check her recipe index.
Check out the Halloween Hay Bales, all dressed up for the holiday. (Mummy – ha!)
Free printable pumpkin carving patterns.
Last minute quick-and-easy costume ideas. (I can’t pick a favorite – several of them cracked me up! But Ceiling Fan? Love that.)
Creepy music to download for free.
Since we don’t get to go trick or treating with our own candy bag any more, we thought we’d put together a bag of treats for one lucky winner! (Shown here, $60 value.) If you’d like a chance to win, just leave a comment below and tell us your favorite food or drink that you make (or buy) when it’s cold and rainy and blustery and you just need something warm and wonderful. I tend towards soup when it’s cold outside. Even better if I can make it in the slow cooker so that it’s ready and smells wonderful when I get home from work. I have a few favorites. Wild Rice and Chicken Soup, Lasagne Soup, Cheddar Chowder, and Cold Weather Chili. Even better with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on the side. So what is your go-to food when it’s cold and you need something that warms you up? We’ll randomly draw a winner next week!
Sheri wishingIhadleftsoupintheslowcookerfordinnertonight
Homemade cinnamon rolls with icing
Tomato all the way. With gold fish.
I have lots of favorite comfort foods, but Amy’s rice mac and cheeze (made with Daiya) is smooshy gooey goodness especially with peas mixed in. Baking cookies/pies from Isa or cupcakes from Sticky Fingers’ books are always a nice pick-me-up.
I am late to this comment section! I have to say, building a fire in the fireplace, having some Indian chai to sip on & a hearty lentil soup like Dal is about my favorite dinner ever when it’s chilly in the winter! I love sitting in the rocking chairs with a knitted blanket on my lap.
My favorite cold weather comfort foods are Ratatoulle and lentil soup from the More With Less cookbook.
Definitely macaroni & cheese with a bowl of tomato soup… it’s my comfy go-to meal. 🙂
Comfort food – tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on homemade bread.
There sure have been a lot of yummy sounding soups and chilis mentioned, but my cold-weather comfort food has to be a roasted chicken with vegetables, My second choice would have to be a bowl (and not just a cup!) of creamy fish or clam chowder with oyster crackers. Yum and yum.
I agree that soup’s the best. I’ve learned some new ones recently; cauliflower leek, butternut squash apple, and vegetarian split pea.
15 bean soup with a smoked turkey sausage ring sliced into it. It simmers for hours and the smells of onion and garlic spice the whole house.
Soup. It pretty much just has to be soup, although I really like cream of mushroom, tomato bisque, and split pea the best, I think 🙂
Venison pot roast, in the slow cooker all day.
Definitely soup. Tortilla Soup is our current favorite, but creamy tomato, black bean, tortellini, and chicken noodle all make regular appearances this time of year.
Definitely my favorite cold weather crockpot meal is beef stew – all the food groups in one bowl & so easy to make, serve and clean up too. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve made your wild rice & chicken soup in the crock-pot as well since you posted it last year. Oh wow – can’t decide which one I really love the best!
Oh Yummmmmmm!!!!!!! Hot spiced cider and flavored coffees, Hearty chicken stew made in the slow cooker, and pumpkin pie cheesecake (okay not a hot food but still yummy)
My comfort drink for cold days is definitely hot chocolate. We make it with Ghirardelli sweet chocolate and milk, and add some cinnamon to taste. Yummy!
I don’t really have a particular comfort food, but anything with melted cheese in or on usually bits the spot.
Mexican hot chocolate. Num.
I like to make chili and 10 bean soup in the crock pot. I also like to drink teas and when watching football a beer. Thanks for sharing.
Hmm…I drink hot tea year-round, but I tend to drink hot chocolate only in the winter. Or apple cider. Mmmm.
Oh boy…do I love the cold weather just so I can pull my Dutch oven out! I like to make pasta e fagoli with hamburger and pasta with white beans and misc veggies. All that with some red wine and French bread!….
I have a great recipe for Pasta e fagoli (just like Olive Garden’s) made in my crock pot. I love it. It’s great for winter with bread in the bread machine. g
My husband makes me the most divine hot chocolate with cocoa powder he brought me from Japan, local milk, and one of the stevia sugar substitutes. I’m Diabetic and most of the really good cocoa’s available in you average store already have way more sugar than I can stomach or handle blood sugar wise. So this hot chocolate sometimes with a drop of mint extract is my absolute favorite drink. It even beats out a really good cappuccino. Plus I don’t have to do anything. Such wonderful spoiling by my best guy.
hot chocolate is the best for warming up on a cold day! Soup and freshly baked artisian break is my favorite cold weather dinner.
thank you for having a fun giveaway!
I am big time into soup! And my ultimate comfort food is mashed potato n gravy… so for me a big pot of Potato Soup 🙂
Cold weather makes me want some hot chocolate, but soup sounds really good too!
Decaf soy peppermint mocha from Starbucks! Oh and a big bowl of ramen!
Various types of hearty soups are always great, but the number one in my book is kimchi jigae (kimchi stew). It warms you up with its temperature heat and its spicy heat 🙂
Any kind of soup but this year so far its been bean soup. I will have to check out the recipes you linked to.
A big pot of beef stew braised all day & served over mashed potatoes! 🙂
A big pot of hearty soup is a winner when it comes to warming up my family.
Potato cheese soup with bacon crumbles.
Steaming hot Earl Grey tea (in one of my Loopy mugs)! A big pot of Chili with cornbread on the side!
We’ve been without power since Monday evening and I am glad I bought a generator last year after Hurricane Irene. At least I can sit and knit! Poor hubby, his clients in NJ are closed and he’s suffering from a bad case of cabin fever!
My favorite thing to make is a huge pot of “kitchen sink” chili. I start with a base and then add in whatever strikes my fancy. It always comes out delicious (maybe because one of my key ingredients is love?). As soon as the power comes back on I’ll be mixing up a batch and add fresh-baked bread, grated cheese, and a dollop of low-fat sour cream. Yum!!
We love potato soup with onion, bacon, garlic and parsley. And warm garlic bread, with bengal spice tea. Yum!
pasta any time, any weather. As I have to cut down on tomatoes and tomato sauce (my first food loves), I tend to make mac and cheese, starting with a roux of flour and butter and then whatever cheeses I have in the house to mix, melt in.
Gotta have a bowl of chili when its chilly.
My father, who lives in Montana, makes a wonderful soup with navy beans, ham, sausage, tomatoes and cabbage. “Dad’s Soup” is my favorite cold weather meal, paied with crust whole-grain bread.
For quick comfort, I make myself a cup of tea. Nothing like holding that warm mug in your hands! On cold, raw days, chilli is our favorite. Love the way the house smells when a big pot of anything is on the stove.
I love to make mulled apple cider. Not only is is tasty to drink, but it makes your house smell fantastic.
So many things come to mind, but a current favorite is mocha cafe. I use a good quality chocolate powder, milk, and a spoonful of instant espresso coffee. Quick and very warming.
I love to make vegetable-beef soup in my slow cooker. It is AWESOME to come home from church or work or to come down in the mornings and smell that wonderful concoction that has been slowly created overnight!
I love homemade chicken and noodles (homemade dough not store bought) and mashed potatoes on a cold night. Next time I’m going to make extra potatoes and try that potato soup recipe in your blog. Favorite drinks are Starbuck’s Spiced Apple Cider and the Caramel Creme Brulee. Stay warm!
There are so many winter comfort foods/drinks but Chicken Pot Pie is one of our favorites. Also, a pot of good coffee is essential!
I make cheesy chicken rice in the crockpot for nachos! A super big hit with everyone!
Chili soup is a favorite, but so is a pot roast. Yum!
Soups, of course, but I also like chicken curry and spaghetti. I love any kind of curry and pretty much eat it year-round.
Hope I’m not too late!
I LOVE to make hot chocolate! My currant favorite recipe is 2 cups of milk and a half cup of chocolate chips. Heat the milk over medium heat and add in the chips, stirring until melted. You can replace a cup of the milk with cream, if so inclined 🙂 Sometimes I add a few sticks of cinnamon or orange peels to the milk before adding the chocolate to make it fancy.
We did this last year at work and it was a huge hit, so we did it again last week – one person brings in a crockpot, I buy some apple cider, we add an orange, a lemon, some cinnamon & some cloves and warm it up. It makes the cubicle warm, it makes the office smell awesome and it makes us warm, sweet and happy. You should try it at TLE!
I make soup–either chili or a soup that has no name. No Name Soup is based off of a chicken tortilla soup recipe, but as my version does not have chicken or tortilla strips…
When I really need some comfort, I make grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It was a favorite of my mom’s and mine when the boys were gone for dinner and it was just the two of us…