Comfort, Joy and Soul Food

FYI: Re-posted from January of 2007, so some of the information contained herein is dated. (Don't you love this pooh and piglet image? One of my favorite!)

Here in northeastern Ohio we have finally had our first blast of real winter. I'm finally spying icicles hanging from our wooden awnings outside the kitchen window. The wind is fiercely blustery - nothing that Pooh-Bear or Piglet would care for in the Hundred Acre Wood....and the snowflakes are powdery and magical, falling in large doses one minute and lesser ones the next; even the sun pops out every now and then, but not to be mistaken, it is very cold out there! It's a day like this that makes me think of indoor comforts, cozy comforts....: an extra coat of Vita-Moist Facial Moisturizer (my favorite from Avon), to ward off dehydrated, sensitive skin, and a "mom-moment" with Seattle's Best Sleighbell coffee...And then: atmosphere: a warm glowing burning candle of Spiced Carmel or Buttercream Vanilla nestled near the stove, and my usual classical music station playing softly while I work up some comfort food in the kitchen. Just when I'm thinking of such soul food on a day such as this.....and really taking refuge and comfort in "home", I wander over to Meredith's blog to discover a Meal Planning Carnival starting this Saturday. How providential! Just when I was thinking of posting my favorite winter comfort meal for family and thinking of asking others for theirs. So you have it! Is the internet great or what?! Do all great minds think alike?! OK then..... my soul food for a wintry Ohio day .......


Cozy Chicken-Potato-Stuffing Bake

You've already baked at least 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and they are ready to be diced. Next, whether they are real mashed or boxed mashed potatoes, you whip them up (about 6 servings worth) and begin by spreading these mashed potatoes in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Next, you layer the cut-up chicken on top of the potatoes. Now you take one can of Cream of Chicken soup, mix it with 8 ounces of sour cream, thin it out with just about 1/4 cup of milk, and spread it over the chicken. The final layer is stuffing -- lots and lots of good ole' bread stuffing - any kind you'd like to use - just make sure it covers the entire top nicely. Finally, you bake this casserole at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

I usually serve this with a side of corn, and homemade Buttermilk biscuits. And to add some sweetness we finish with homemade brownies made with cocoa.

Piglet and Pooh image courtesy of: Parnell Brothers