Autumn Comfort Foods

By Faith Heinauer

Whether its grandma's cooking, dishes that warm you when the weather gets cold, or food you turned to when stressed, everyone has their own version of comfort foods.

If you need some home cooked nourishment, try these tasty & traditional recipes!

Turkey or Meat Loaf

This main dish is simple and satisfying! It can be made in 5 minutes, and leftovers make the perfect sandwich.

2 pounds ground turkey or beef

1 small to medium onion, finely chopped

½ cup ketchup

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

½ teaspoon dry mustard (if you don't have dry mustard, use regular mustard and increase the amount to 2 teaspoons)

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 egg

1 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

3. Shape meatloaf into loaf pan. Place in oven and bake for one hour.

Sour Cream & Cheddar Cheese Twice-Baked Potatoes

Potatoes are comfort food! This tender potato dish is hearty and heartwarming. Potatoes skins are stuffed with a creamy and savory cheddar cheese filling and then baked until golden.

4 large baking potatoes, baked *

½ cup sour cream

½ cup milk

3 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon salt pepper, to taste

1 Tablespoon chives

1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, grated

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out potato pulp while still hot. (Use a towel to hold the potato, and scoop pulp out with a small stainless steel spoon. Be careful not to tear the skin).

3. In a medium bowl, add the potato pulp, sour cream, milk, butter, salt and pepper. With a mixer, whip until light and fluffy.

4. Stir in the chives and cheddar cheese. Evenly spoon the potato filling into the potato skins.

5. Bake for 30 minutes.

* To bake the potatoes: Pierce the potatoes with a fork & place them in a 425° pre-heated oven until potatoes are tender, about 60 minutes. For extra cheesiness, sprinkle the stuffed potato with shredded Parmesan cheese and bake.

Apple Caramel Pie

This apple pie has the gooey goodness of caramel, and the sweet lusciousness of brown sugar and cinnamon. It tastes best warm, and with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

1 single-crust pie dough pie:

½ cup brown sugar, packed

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 dash of nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

6 cups apples, peeled and sliced thinly

1/3 cup caramel ice cream topping

topping:

2/3 cup brown sugar, packed

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup oats

½ cup butter

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. Line a pie dish with a single crust pie dough. Set aside.

3. For the pie base: In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar, 3 Tablespoons flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add the apples and toss until coated.

4. For the pie topping: Stir together the brown sugar, ½ cup flour and oats. With a fork, your fingers, or a pastry blender, add in the butter until it is in coarse crumbs.

5. Evenly place the apples into the pie shell. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the apples.

6. Drape a piece of aluminum foil over the pie (to prevent burning). Place in the oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 30 minutes, until top is golden brown. Remove from oven and drizzle with caramel sauce. Cool on a wire rack.

Faith Heinauer is a chef, cookbook author, columnist, and the creative force behind her website, http://www.breakeggs.com (site no longer active) Sign up for tasty bi-weekly newsletter!