Tidings of Comfort Food & Joy – Grilled Cheese Steak, Bacon Mac, Chicken Soup ‘n More

Today, I am bringing you tidings of comfort (food) and joy in honor of National Comfort Food Day (December 5th). I believe it’s no coincidence that this feel-good food holiday is falling on a Monday. And, not just any Monday, but the day after I struggled through a cold, windy and rainy marathon.

jen-and-jonathan-san-antonio-marathon-2016Honestly, I’m still feeling a little chilled to the bone, depleted, and licking battle wounds, and embracing the opportunity to take a MAJOR rest day, hang out in my PJs and fuzzy slippers, and make comfort food my new best friend.

Y’all know I typically eat reasonably, mostly clean . . . but I’m never going to deny myself food I’m craving for comfort every now and then. Sometimes your body is telling you to eat these things for a reason, other times it’s strictly soul satisfying. Regardless, when you let go of the guilt and give your food worries a rest day, it tastes even better!

Brazilian Grilled Cheese Steak SandwichBrazilian Grilled Cheese Steak Sandwich – This is what happens when a Philly Cheese Steak meets an American Grilled Cheese meets a Brazilian Bauru sandwich? You can thank me later. Recipe originally developed for my friends at BeefLovingTexans.com, and shared for you at bottom of post!

Brazilian Grilled Cheese Steak Sandwich ith Jalapeno Chimichurri is a delicious lunch or dinner that they whole family will love.

Bacon & Blue Cheese Mac – Ahh, most any pasta dish is comforting, but mac and cheese is a like coming home after being away from loved ones for too long. The addition of blue cheese and bacon makes the reunion even better!

Bacon & Blue Cheese Mac

Comforting Chicken & Rice Soup – When it’s drafty and cold, and your feeling run down and even under-the-weather, this easy chicken and rice soup comes to the rescue in a snap. And, while slurping up a big bowl is comforting to the core, it’s also a healthy choice!

Comforting Chicken and Rice Soup

Simply the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies – They are not sugar-free, calorie-free nor carb-free, but these buttery, chewy chippers are a treat worth treating yourself to!

jennifer fisher thefitfork best chocolate chip cookie

Root Beer Float Fudge –  Imagine if you could have the yummy flavor of root beer and vanilla ice cream in fudge format? Well, you can thanks to this recipe I develop a few years back for the magazine Simple & Delicious. While, I wouldn’t eat the whole pan at once, I certainly say CHEERS to a piece for a sweet treat.

2013_07 rootbeer float fudge

So, what is your go-to comfort food? Do you prefer sweet or savory? What are you making for dinner tonight?! Please share in the comments, XOXO- Jennifer 

Tidings of Comfort Food & Joy – Beefy Grilled Cheese, Bacon Mac, Chicken Soup ‘n More
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Brazilian Bauru meets Pilly Cheesesteak meets an American diner grilled cheese -- this easy pannini style sandwich makes a delicious lunch or dinner.
Course: Dessert, Main Dish, Pasta, Sandwich, Snack, Soup
Cuisine: American, South American
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
for Jalapeno Chimichurri
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teapsoon ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 cup Parsley leaves (some tender stems okay)
  • 1 cup Cilantro leaves (some tender stems okay)
  • 1/2 large jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped
for sandwiches
  • 1 1/4 pound top sirloin steak, sliced very thinly
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
  • 1 medium yellow onion, sliced thinly
  • 4 ounces sun dried tomatoes cut into thin strips
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated or sliced
  • 8 slices bakery sourdough bread
  • 3 tablespoons light cream cheese, softened
Instructions
  1. Pre-make chimichurri by adding all ingredients to small blender or food processor. Pulse on and off in 10 second increments to break up ingredients into coarse sauce. Set aside.
  2. Heat large skilled to medium-high. Add sliced sirloin and cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes. Beef will be ready to remove from pan once lightly browned on edges and pink has been just taken off center. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.
  3. n same skillet (reserved with a tiny bit of beef fat and bits) add onion slices and cook over medium high, stirring as need, for about 6 to 8 minutes or until softened and beginning to caramelize. Add beef back into skillet with onions along with tomatoes, salt and red pepper flakes; stir to combine.
  4. Meanwhile, heat Panini press or clean skillet to medium-high heat.
  5. Butter outer sides of two slices of bread and layer each side with mozzarella. Place slice of bread, butter side down, on pan and top with ¼ of beef mixture. Add top piece of cheese and bread.
  6. Cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side until bread turning golden brown and cheese melting. Repeat for remaining sandwiches.
  7. To serve, lift up tops of sandwiches and drizzle with chimichurri. Serve hot.

Kids’ Night in the Kitchen – Gluten-Free Mac & Cheese Two Ways!

Horizon Gluten Free Organic White Mac & Cheese Two Ways - TheFitFork.comIn my perfect world, I’d be making pasta from scratch, growing veggies out in the garden and serving up meals on a magazine-spread worthy tablescape.   But as a mom to three boys juggling roles as writer, blogger, wife, athlete, cooking coach, laundry slinger and non-stop chauffer, this isn’t my season for such leisurely pursuits. Some day, some day.  In the meantime, I rely on a number of quality conveniences to tackle my to-do list – one of my favorites is making the kids macaroni and cheese FROM A BOX! Of course, it’s not any ole box, its Horizon Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese, a product I know I can trust and count on to perform time and time again. Featuring organic pasta from a blend of rice, lentil, and corn flour and real Horizon® organic cheese, this mac will satisfy every craving. The texture and taste if fantastic, plus I appreciate the fact that each serving has 10 grams of protein to help fill up the hollow-legged “hangries” these boys always have.

Organic Gluten Free White Mac & Cheese from Horizon - TheFitFork.comAnd, drum roll please, mac and cheese is such a staple at Chez Fisher that my older two kids even know how to make it BY THEMSELVES. Yeah, that’s right, I’ve passed down this tasty task to each of the little (well, actually BIG) munchers sometime in middle school and it was ABOUT TIME!  What a relief to know that if I’m running late on a carpool duty or have a late appointment, that one of the kiddos can get the meal started.

While we still have gains to make on the breadth of their kitchen skills, they are improving week by week.  When I’m not home, one cooks and the other washes the dishes – and the youngest just s tands by to give morale support critiques. One way I’ve helped make kitchen-time fun is to let the boys be creative with recipes and give them ownership of the meal-making.. Gluten Free Mac & Cheese with Meatball and Marinara - TheFitFork.com

For example, whipping up a hearty batch of Horizon Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese  topped with meatballs and marinara was a popular meal that’s been done time and time again. Again, it’s a meal they can make all on their own as the meatballs are the frozen ones that reheat in the microwave and the sauce is out of a jar — shhh! Carrot and Snap Pea Mac and Cheese - TheFitFork.com

Another mac and cheese meal that happens over here actually has vegetables – Carrots and Snap Pea Mac & Cheese!  Again, this is a “no recipe” recipe, just make the Horizon Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese  and mix in lightly steamed matchstick carrots (about ½ cup) and halved sugar snap peas (about ½ cup). Since my kids are older, I don’t have to “hide” vegetables, they’ll eat what is served  — although, maybe not going back for seconds. However, I noticed that if I let them pick a couple veggies to mix into mac & cheese, there’s not a scrap left in the pot –veggie goodness coated in creamy, cheesy deliciousness is always a winner.   I was secretly hoping that they’d mix last summer’s green chiles and calabeza squash I have stored in the freezer – but, lets’ not push it. Maybe next time some colorful bell peppers?!   Boy with Bell Peppers - Let Kids Choose Veggies

Find out more about Horizon Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese and their other delicious, family friendly products by following them on Twitter, Facebook , or the Mealtime Solutions Board on Pinterest.

So, what would YOU mix into mac & cheese?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organics. The opinions and text are all mine.