In honor of next week's release of Michelle Obama's cookbook, American Grown, we baked up something sweet, and now we're onto another one of America's favorite comfort foods, mac and cheese. I was initially a little wary of this version because it didn't call for making a roux, which gives most mac and cheese recipes that creamy, hearty texture. In the first lady's recipe, you simply stir Read more

Let's face it: unless you reside in tropical climes, the idea of cold cereal and Caprese salad just doesn't cut it right now. Instead, you should succumb to that secret desire to enjoy the succulent, creamy, gooey nature of the season's finest comfort foods, from griddle patty melts to just-out-of-the-oven peanut butter and chocolate chunk brownies. Here are a few of our favorites right now; for Read more

We have all medicated our moods with chocolate or pizza at some point in our lives. While experts know that certain meals soothe us, the exact reasons remain a bit of a mystery. New research, however, sheds light on the hows and whys of emotional eating. Researchers found that even without seeing, smelling, or tasting food, study participants were better at battling negative emotions with Read more

We're huge fans of comforting and delicious scalloped potatoes. Usually they're loaded with cream and milk, but girla has shared an awesome recipe that's 100 percent vegan. The Husband LOVES potatoes and several days a week, he makes hash browns from scratch. But in an effort to reduce fried and sauteed food, he decided to make these baked scalloped potatoes from Veganomicon. They turned out Read more

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 Read more

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? Read more

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 Read more