General Info: Food for Comfort

"One of those days". Everyone you know has had them. In fact, you may have experienced them yourself. You woke up late for work, arrived looking and feeling frazzled, and rushed to a meeting-- only to get yelled at by your boss. Or maybe you're a student, who rushed all morning to finish that homework you promised yourself you'd wake up early to do (five more minutes seemed more important at the time), only to forget about the math quiz you needed to study for. Maybe your girlfriend left you for your best friend. Maybe you got in a fight with your roommate. Maybe you just have a case of the Monday blues. Regardless of the cause, everyone has days so painful they can only feel better if they eat some Comfort Food. Here are five delicious recipes for food that goes best with a little self-pity and a few tears. So hold on a little longer-- make yourself some quality food-- and then relax, mope, and eat.

1. Chooey-Gooey Bars

Ingredients:

• 20 oz. pkg. refrigerated chocolate chip or white chocolate chunk cookie dough
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 12 oz. pkg. semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup caramel fudge ice cream topping

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice cookie dough into 1/2" slices and arrange in greased 15x10" pan. Press evenly into pan using floured fingers so dough covers bottom of pan. Bake crust at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes until light golden brown. Sprinkle crust with marshmallows and chocolate chips. Return to oven and bake an additional 8-10 minutes or until marshmallows are puffy and light golden brown. Remove from oven and drizzle caramel topping evenly over bars. Cool completely and cut into bars. 32 bars

2. Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 2 cups penne or medium shell pasta
• 16 ounce jar four cheese Alfredo sauce
• 1 cup frozen baby peas
• 1 cup soft whole wheat bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 1-1/2 quart glass casserole with cooking spray and set aside.

In large pot, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, drain and return to pot. Add alfredo sauce and peas to drained pasta and cook over low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is combined, about 3-5 minutes.

Place in prepared dish and top with a mixture of soft bread crumbs and melted butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until casserole is bubbling and bread crumbs are browned. Serves 4-6

3. Grilled Cheese

Ingredients:

• 4 slices whole wheat bread
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Havarti cheese
• 1 tomato, thinly sliced

Preparation:

Spread one side of each bread slice with softened butter. Spread other side of bread slices with dijon mustard. Divide cheeses evenly on mustard side of two bread slices. Cover with tomato slices and top with remaining bread slices, mustard side down. Prepare and preheat two sided grill. Grill sandwiches for 2-3 minutes, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted. 2 sandwiches

4. Minute Apple Tart

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 2 Granny Smith apples or two peaches, peeled, cored and sliced paper thin
• 1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation:

Roll pastry onto a well floured surface and cut into twelve 3" squares. Prick the pastry with a fork and coat each with a spoonful of apricot jam. Fan the apple slices over the jam, arranged nicely. In small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon and mix well. Sprinkle over apple (or peach) slices. Put the tarts on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until the apple slices are crisp-tender and the pastry is golden brown. Try serving these hot, with vanilla ice cream!

5. Scrambled Eggs Benedict

Ingredients:

• 4 English muffins, split, buttered, and toasted
• 10 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup water
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 (8 ounce) jar four cheese Alfredo sauce
• 8 thin slices Canadian bacon or ham

Preparation:

Split, butter, and toast the English muffins and set aside. Preheat broiler. In large bowl, beat eggs with water, salt, and pepper. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add eggs; cook and stir until eggs are set but still fluffy and moist. Stir in 1/2 cup of the Alfredo sauce and remove from heat. Place a spoonful of Alfredo sauce on top of each English muffin and top with Canadian bacon. Divide eggs among muffins and top each with some Alfredo sauce. Place on broiler pan. Broil, 6" from heat source, for 2-3 minutes until heated. Serve immediately.