comfort foods

If you're feeling down and out, that bowl of macaroni and cheese may just be the ticket. According to a new study conducted at the University of Buffalo, lonely participants were able to rescue themselves from their disconsolate feelings when they focused their thoughts on comfort foods.

The findings, which were published in the magazine Psychological Science, have implications about comfort food and its, well, comforting properties. Need to further that excuse to eat more meatloaf and mashed potatoes? Then head over to Slashfood for all the details.

We're amidst a rainy streak here in SF, and as we do with most occasions, we're trying to make the most of it with delicious dishes. Susannah's got warm and hearty chili on the brain, and I'm planning to drown my sorrows in spicy chicken soup this week. How about you — what's your go-to dish when the storm blows in?

The January issue of Martha Stewart Living has an amazing article on roast chicken. Since roast chicken is one of the most comforting meals, I've been experimenting with the enticing recipes. There's five fabulous variations, but my favorite is the one seen here for garlic-butter rubbed chicken with roasted oranges and red onions.

The technique and ingredients are simple, but the resulting chicken is juicy, succulent, and intensely delicious. Now is the perfect time to make this chicken because oranges are in season, and they're the major flavoring agent. The zest seeps into the chicken and permeates it with orange essence. I served it with white beans, but it would pair nicely with potatoes or rice. Get the recipe, after the break.

If you are trying to keep warm this Winter and have already tried these 10 essential soups, don't fret, a chicken meatball and cheese tortellini soup will soothe your soul just the same. This is a great weeknight meal since it comes together relatively quickly and takes a minimum amount of effort.

On my first go around, I made the meatballs a little too large, so next time I'll aim for a more bite-sized meatball. Fans of simple chicken noodle soup will be blown away by these chicken meatballs combined with fresh cheese tortellini and delicious broth. This soup is wonderful the night it's cooked and, like many other comfort foods, even better the next day.

Ready for a new take on the classic? Get the recipe.

This photo from birdsflyinghigh reminds us how delicious a classic and simple combination, like tomato soup and cheesy bread, can be.

One of my favorite Winter dishes!

Visit Savory Sights for more pictures of mouthwatering meals. Do you have an image of something gorgeous that you recently made or enjoyed? If so, be sure to upload it in our YumSugar Community!

Recently I had a fun idea: I would make roast chicken, come up with two different ways of using the leftover meat, and share the whole thing with you! Since stuffing is an Autumnal favorite, I selected this recipe for roasted chicken halves with sage stuffing. It's seasoned with fresh sage and paprika and cooked on a bed of homemade croutons, celery, onion, and garlic. The finished dish is insanely scrumptious! The chicken meat was moist and flavorful, and the skin was crispy and addictive. The rich and caramelized stuffing sucks up all the chicken's juices while cooking. If you like roast chicken, you must make this dish. Check back tomorrow and Friday to find out what I do with the leftovers, and to see this recipe, read more.