Food That Says Home

The cold weather is here, the leaves have fallen, the fireplace is in play again, and the holiday season is underway. There are plenty of down sides to colder weather — like less time spent outside and more cabin fever for the kids — but there are a lot of pluses, too. Maybe best of all, it's comfort food season.
 
We all have our go-to comfort foods, the cozy, homemade dishes that seem to have a way of refreshing our sense of family and self. For many families, comfort foods are traditional. But traditions have to start somewhere, and we’re happy to share some of our best comfort food recipes. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be handing one of these recipes down to your grandkids.

Simple Roasted Pork Tenderloin

• 1 lb pork tenderloin
• 2 tbsp. freshly chopped rosemary
• 1 tbsp. coarse salt
• 1 tsp. ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp. olive oil

Pre-heat oven to 425° Combine rosemary, salt, pepper and oil in a small bowl, and mix well. Rub mixture over pork loin, covering entirely. Lay pork loin in glass dish, fat side up, and cover. Bake for 20 minutes, then turn pork loin. Bake for an additional 15 minutes, and uncover. Cook until browned and internal temperature reaches 150°. Remove and slice into thin medallions. Serve with fresh rosemary garnish. Serves 4.

Cider Beef Stew*

• 2 lbs beef stew meat
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 cups apple cider
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 bay leaf
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon basil
• 4 carrots, peeled and quartered
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in wedges
• 2 onions, sliced
• 1 apple, peeled and sliced

Step 1: Mix flour with a little salt and pepper in a resealable plastic bag. Add the stew meat and shake to coat.
Step 2. Heat oil in a large stewpot or Dutch oven, Brown stew meat, and drain off the fat.
Step 3. Stir in the apple cider, lemon juice, bay leaf, and spices.
Step 4. Bring to a boil. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Step 5. Add the carrots, potatoes, onions, and apple.
Step 6. Cover and cook 20 minutes longer.

Sweet Ricotta Pie*

• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1 dash salt
• 3 eggs, separated
• 12 oz. evaporated milk
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts

Step 1. Place the cheese in a strainer; drain for about 1 hour or until most of liquid has drained.
Step 2. Preheat oven to 425°.
Step 3. Combine all the ingredients except the egg whites; mix well.
Step 4. Beat the egg whites until firm, fold into batter until smooth.
Step 5. Pour into pie crusts.
Step 6. Bake 15 minutes and reduce oven to 350°; bake additional 25 minutes or until knife in center comes out clean.
Step 7. Cool on racks, then chill.

 *Recipes courtesy of Recipezaar: www.recipezaar.com