By Rachel King
Grilled Cheese With Jam
When I think of a rainy day, I think of cooking up a classic grilled cheese. It’s easy and fast, requires minimal ingredients and it is so customizable. The sweetness that comes from the addition of the jam balances out the saltiness of the cheese, making for the perfect combination of sweet and savory.
Bacon Mac & Cheese
You can add bacon to almost anything and instantly make it better, and mac and cheese is no exception. The meatiness of the bacon gives the dish sustenance while its texture serves as a crunch factor to contrast with the soft creaminess of the pasta.
Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Your prayers of chicken pot pie being portable have been answered. Cook up pot pie using a muffin tin instead of the 9 x 13 pan that all the other recipes call for. Forget the messiness that can result at potlucks when serving from a pan of pot pie and look forward to neat little pies that nobody can have just one of.
BBQ Pulled Pork Quesadilla
Maybe you don’t consider quesadillas a comfort food, but once you try this recipe, you will quickly change your mind. Like the jam in the grilled cheese, the barbecue carries with it a sweetness that complements the cheese in a way that other sauces couldn’t.
Bagel Pizzas
Is it breakfast? Is it dinner? The world may never know, so you might as well eat it for both. Throw on any toppings your heart desires because you don’t have to please anyone else with this pizza. Since all you have to do is pop your creation in the microwave, you save all the time pizzas usually take to bake in the oven. Then, voila — you have your own personal pan pizza in just seconds.
Chicken Noodle Soup Dumplings
You will need to allot a little more time to prepare this recipe, but let me assure you, the wait is well worth it. Imagine chicken noodle soup but with less soup and a pillow-y layer enveloping the chicken soup in place of noodles. These dumplings are great for when you want comfort food on the run.
Chili With Chorizo
Spice up your grandma’s traditional chili recipe with some diced chorizo. Chorizo ensures you get a kick in every bite while elevating the dish to a more sophisticated level because of the exotic flavor blend. Serve it atop white rice to cool down the dish to a more manageable level if necessary.
S’mores With Peanut Butter Cups
Substitute your usual standard chocolate bar for a peanut butter cup for a party in your mouth. Not only are you getting a chocolate flavor to pair with gooey marshmallows and crunchy graham crackers, but also peanut butter. If you’re feeling really crazy, use chocolate AND peanut butter cups.
Salted Caramel Brownies
Hot, fudgy brownies fresh from the oven are better than essentially everything else I can possibly think of, but have you ever tried topping them with salted caramel? The salt accentuates the sweet caramel flavor, and the caramel tones down the richness of the brownies, resulting in a treat that everyone wants to come home to.
The Spread 