Comfort Food 101

I was at Trader Joe’s A while ago and found these boxed brownie mixes that where 3 bucks a box.  I bought 2 of those, and an Orange Cranberry bread….I need to revisit that one.  I tried them first by following the recipe, and it was pretty good.  I thought I could tweak it a bit, so I have altered the ingredients to suite my tastes.  Enjoy.

Doctored up Trader Joe’s Brownie Mix

You will need the following tools:

Mixing bowl, mixing spoon,

8×8in baking pan- spray with cooking spray, or oil the bottom and sides of the pan.

Preheat oven to 350degrees

Ingredients List:

1 box Trader Joes Dutch Brownie Mix

2 Large Eggs

1/2pt. Low fat sour cream OR vanilla yogurt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon Pure Honey

(I also add chocolate-marshmallow candy pieces, but please add what you like.)

Preparation:

Combine Brownie mix, and baking soda together, dry, once evenly blended, add eggs, sour cream/yogurt and honey and blend until smooth. Transfer into greased baking pan, and, depending on your candy choice,  space the pieces so they are spaced in even rows so each piece gets the good stuff.

Bake at 350 Degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Longer if needed.  These brownies will be taller than average . To test when done, insert a toothpick, or butter knife blade into the center of the brownies. They’re done when a toothpick/knife comes out clean,  Let cool for 10 minutes, Slice and serve.    I also recommend topping the cooled brownies with white sour cream icing.   That’s coming soon.

This is my family recipe for gravy.  Beef, Chicken, pork, Turkey, it doesn’t matter.  They all work just as well.  this should be enough for 4-6 plates with a bit left over for the greedy ones at the table.

$: 4-6   Prep: Easy

Ingredients:

1 14-16oz can Broth (animal of your choice)

3 Tablespoons Wondra Flour

1 Cup Milk

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

in a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a gentle boil

While the broth is heating, in a coffee cup or measuring cup, slowly combine the Wondra Flour with the milk, while stirring constantly (this eliminates lumps) until fully combined

Once broth is at a boil, slowly add the milk/flour mixture, stirring constantly.  Add salt and pepper to taste, reduce heat to low and boil down (still stirring) until the desired consistancy is reached.

Enjoy!

Welcome to Comfort Food 101!  Today, I invite you to try one of my favorite creations.  This simple to prep, easy to eat meal for 4 can be an inexpensive feast for you and your friends to enjoy.

$: 10-15  Prep: Easy

Ingredients:

1 Prepackaged boneless, skinless Turkey Breast

1 bunch Celery

3 Whole Carrots

1 Medium to Large Onion

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1/2 Tablespoon Honey

Salt and pepper to taste

1 Teaspoon Rosemary

2 Cans Turkey Gravy (homemade gravy recipe coming soon)

Preparation:

Pre-heat Oven to 350F

Rinse and chop Carrots, Celery and Onions into large pieces.

Rinse the turkey breast and place it in the center of an oven safe pan. (I use a non-stick skillet)  If your pan in not Non-stick, grease the bottom with vegetable oil before hand.

Add the chopped veggies around the turkey, making sure the turkey is not covered by the veggies

Drizzle the olive oil and honey over the turkey and veggies, salt and pepper to taste and evenly spread the rosemary over everything.

Bake, covered, for 1 hour.  10 minutes before the hour expires, add both cans of gravy to the pan, re-cover and let bake till completion.

Enjoy

I serve mine with herb and butter mashed potatoes, ya know, the boxed kind.  You can make them from scratch too.  Give each plate a slice of buttered french bread and you have a filling meal, that tastes like it took forever.  Don’t like honey?  Leave it out.  Feel free to add different veggies too!  I love to experiment, and encourage you to do the same!