SoCo Foods!

This is no AA meeting people! I am not talking about the whiskey! Nor am I talking about my dog. I am talking about good ol' comfort foods that are great for those COLD winter months. I don't know really if the recipes would classify as Southern comfort or not, but hey...i am from the south, and these foods comfort me!!! The recipes i am going to share with you today are also very good for making in bulk and freezing for when you really don't wanna be in the kitchen. Just thaw and reheat!!!

Tonight, for me and my family, I am making the classic meatloaf. You can put any and everything you like in a meatloaf. I have added ingredients like, Parmesan cheese and pizza sauce, or barbecue sauce and a little shredded chedder. Sometimes i have even made glazes with things like balsamic vinegar and honey. As long as you follow the basic recipe, you cannot go wrong with any ingredients you feel like adding. You can also use different kinds of ground meats to start your loaf. Beef, veal, turkey...or even a veggie loaf! Explore all the possibilities of a meatloaf, as long as you start it with this: A ground meat, an egg; to hold it in its loaf form, and bread and/or bread crumbs to soak up any moisture and also binds it together.

You can also take this very simple recipe and stuff it into bell peppers before popping into the oven and have some delicious stuffed peppers for something new! (just remember to poke a few holes in the bottom of the peppers so that the grease can drain out)

My basic, no fuss recipe is this:

1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 Large egg
1 Onion, chopped
1 Can Rotel tomatoes
3 slices of day old bread
1-2 tsp. chili powder

Combine all the ingredients above, carefully. You do NOT want to over work the meat. Place in a meatloaf pan or mold to form a loaf. Cook at 375* for One hour. Drain off any liquid and glaze as you see fit. Place back in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before cutting into slices.

Hopefully yours will turn out looking something like this...

Another WONDERFUL winter time recipe that freezes really well is Taco Soup. A very simple recipe and oh so easy to prepare! Can it get any easier than this?:

2 lbs hamburger meat or stew meat.
1 Large Onion, chopped
2 cans stewed tomatoes, un-drained
2 cans pinto beans, un-drained
2 cans of whole kernel corn, un-drained
1 Can Rotel Tomatoes, un-drained
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning
1 pkg. Dry Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix

Brown meat and onions. Drain off fat then add the rest of the ingredients. Heat through and enjoy! You can serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chives, and even chips, tortillas or homemade corn bread! yum!

You could easily put this in separate serving size bowls and freeze. It gets even more flavorful as it sets!

Chili (everyone has their favorite recipe), stews, and even your favorite sandwich can be frozen for later feasting. Instead of going to the local grocery store and paying out the wazoo for them, make them at home. Get more for your buck!

something very simple that you can do is make and freeze peanut butter sandwiches. You can add your favorite jam, jelly, or preserves. Or how about peanut butter and honey? So yummy! Wrap them individually and freeze. All you have to do is take it out of the freezer for at least an hour to thaw and it is as fresh as it was when you first made them! They are fantastic to put in a child's lunch box.

Hope you guys have fun making and freezing these scrumptious, winter, Southern Comforts!!!

til next time....