Winter Comfort Food Meal Ideas

As many of you know, Winter is my favorite season. In addition to all of the pretty colors, cooler weather, football season and the excitement of the upcoming holidays, I love to break out my crock pot for Winter cooking! There’s just something about cooking with the slow cooker when the temperature begins to drop outside that I love. It may be the convenience, the lack of a mess, the wonderful aroma that wafts through the house or all of those combined, but Winter crock pot cooking is a favorite of mine. Below are three of my favorite Winter comfort food meals that my family loves – all cooked with the slow cooker!

Ranch Pork Chops:

• 5 Pork Chops
• 1 pkg. of Cream Cheese (or 1 c. low-fat cottage cheese, blended)
• ¼ stick Butter, melted (optional)
• 1 pkg. Ranch Seasoning Mix
• 1 can (10 oz) Cream of Mushroom Soup

Mix the last four ingredients together in a small mixing bowl. Then, layer the sauce and pork chops in the crock pot (sauce, pork chop, sauce, pork chop, etc.) to ensure all of the chops are covered. Cover with lid and cook on low for 7 hours and serve with mashed potatoes (the sauce makes an excellent gravy!).

Chicken Tetrazzini

• 2 lbs. Chicken Breast
• 1 Stick Butter
• 2 cans (10 oz.) Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 tub Cream Cheese w/Onion and Chives
• 1 pkg. Dried Italian Dressing Mix

This is another easy one: Mix the last four ingredients together in a small microwavable bowl, melt and mix well. Next, place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and pour the sauce over it. Cook on low for 6-8 hours and sever over angel hair pasta. While you don’t need anything else with this, garlic bread makes a wonderful addition!

Potato Soup:

• 5-6 Slices of Bacon, cut into small pieces
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1 – 10.5 oz. cans Condensed Chicken Broth
• 2 C. Water
• 5-6 Large Potatoes, diced
• ½ t. Salt
• ½ t. Dill Weed (dried)
• ½ t. White Pepper
• ½ C. All-Purpose Flour
• 2 C. Half & Half Cream
• 1 can (12 oz.) Evaporated Milk

First, sauté the onion and bacon in a large skillet over medium to high heat until the bacon is nicely browned and the onions are soft. Then drain the grease. Place the bacon and onion in the crock pot and mix in the next six ingredients. Cover the slower cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours. (Stir occasionally.) Finally, mix the next two ingredients together in a small bowl and fold into the soup with the evaporated milk. Let the soup continue to cook on low for an additional 30 minutes before you serve. Shredded cheese and crackers always go well with potato soup!