#comfort-food

#comfort-food

The grilled cheese sandwich is the epitome of comfort food. In the U.S., the most common way to prepare this lunchtime staple is stuffing sliced or grated cheese between hearty slices of bread, and toasting everything to melty-crisp perfection in a skillet. However, this certainly isn't the only approach to consider. Around the world, you'll find countless takes on the crowd-pleasing cheese-bread combo, each with its own unique twist.

The fried chicken is the primary reason you're here-it's juicy, crispy, and perfectly seasoned-but the fried catfish is a star in its own right.

Chrissy Teigen's banana bread is incredibly sweet, with dark chocolate chunks that don't quite balance the sweetness, resulting in a cake-like, chewy texture rather than the tender crumb typical of banana bread.

The sourdough crumpets are a must-order and they come with some delightful accompaniments - the dressed Dorset crab and the duck liver parfait with Yorkshire rhubarb being our favourites.

The Crispy Potato Corn Dogs contain bonus ingredients folded into the batter, which means each bite is speckled with cubed potatoes. This is the kind of snack that delivers both flavor and texture.

Marisa Christensen, Holland America's associate vice president of food and beverage operations, directs guests to the line's Dive-In burger. 'It's made fresh to order, incredibly satisfying, and so easy to enjoy right after embarkation when you're settling in.'

The baked pork chop with Portuguese sauce is velvety and just sweet enough, topped off with a blanket of charred cheese.

Ree Drummond's method for scrambled eggs includes whisking them with half-and-half and straining the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to achieve a silky texture.

Jamie Oliver's last meal would be one of his mother's roast dinners, featuring a chunk of beef or lamb or chicken, with all the trimmings and homemade sauces.

The basil chicken fried rice ($14) is Ferguson's go-to. The basil chili sauce brings a gentle heat and plenty of herbal fragrance, while onions and bell peppers add crunch throughout.

Often relegated to canteens and freezer aisles, chicken fricassee rarely gets the attention it deserves. Here, it's treated with care: pasture-raised chicken from northern German producer Lars Odefey is gently cooked in a classic sauce based on a fine chicken broth, served with regional mushrooms and carrots.

Irish Stew may well be the mother of all stews. I mean, you know that anything simmered for hours is going to be a good thing. But this is the stew of your dreams. Guinness gives the sauce an incredible rich, deep flavor, and the beef is fall-apart tender. Arguably the most deeply flavorful sauce of all stews, with a rich dark brown flavor, this is the best of the best.

born in Traverse City Mich now in Chattanooga, TN Today is a rainy, cloudy day, and 30 degrees cooler than it has been. Just the kind of day ya want a nice hot mug of soup. I came up with this yummy tomato soup. I served this with cheese crackers. 2 quarts fresh tomatoes, chopped 1/2 tablespoon seasoned salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 2 bay leaves fresh ground pepper, to taste

But the cheesy mix of chicken and broccoli known as Chicken Divan? Man, I could eat that once a week and never complain. Broccoli is slightly bitter when raw and mushy (and slightly stinky) when overcooked, so it can be a hard sell on its own. But add some roasted chicken and top it with a creamy cheese sauce and the result is a rich and cozy casserole that even the pickiest child will happily eat.

This is a mash-up of several online recipes, but the idea of using chicken gravy packets came from JAP's Carol Davis. This surprisingly made all the difference. Thanks, Carol! Besides serving this over biscuits, mashed potatoes, noodles, or filling a pot pie (just add veggies!), it's delicious as a Chicken and Gravy Open-Faced Sandwich, a delight from my childhood, also made using roast beef, turkey, or meatloaf. (See Step #7.) =^..^=

Luckily, the answer is simple. Chicken fried steak is simply a thin, pounded-out cut of beef, breaded and fried like chicken. It's then topped with creamy country gravy - another Southern staple that can be confusing for those unacquainted - and often served alongside mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, roasted vegetables, or even breakfast items to create a complete, hearty meal.

When you're craving a dish that feels cozy but still offers all the nutrients you need to feel your best, roasted vegetables are the way to go. They often taste richer and more complex than their raw or steamed counterparts, but they still make you feel your best when you eat a big batch of them. Whether you just want some roasted vegetables as a side dish or you want to incorporate them into a more coherent meal,