Cozy Recipes

How about some recipes? I have some here that have been sent in that are fitting for fall/winter, and they all sound like tasty things to feed house guests. And I love feeding house guests tasty things (I think that we can count ordering them pizza as feeding them tasty things, but let's say we need to cook).

First, Marie sent in a recipe for beer bread, which sounds pretty awesome (you can use something else if you don't want to use beer). She says,

"Marie Green's Super Easy Beer Bread

This recipe is really easy and quick (NO kneading), and the bread will be great with soups this fall.

2 Cups Self-Rising Flour (be sure to use Self-Rising)

1/2 C sugar

12 oz beer* (any kind, room temperature if possible)

2 Tblsp melted butter/margarine

(Preheat oven to 375). Grease a standard bread pan. Combine flour, sugar, and beer. Stir until well blended. Pour into bread pan. Let stand for about 20 minutes. Drizzle melted butter on top. Bake at 375 for 50 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes before slicing and eating.

If anyone has ever had the Tastefully Simple brand of beer bread , this recipe is VERY similar.

*Any carbonated beverage will work great. If you use Coke or Sprite, your bread will be slightly sweeter- very tasty."

Erin sent in this, which sounds yummy and cozy and easy:

"Shortcut Chicken & Dumplings

These are shortcut because (1) you use the crockpot, and (2) the dumplings are just Bisquick thrown in on top. I use a few thawed and trimmed chicken breasts (usually three, but two or four works fine too). Put one can (14 oz) of chicken gravy in the crockpot, with one can of hot water. Mix in 1/2 tsp each of oregano, marjoram, and basil (just stir it up with a fork). Put the chicken into the mix, then add about a half cup each of carrots, frozen corn, frozen green beans, and frozen peas (or whatever veggies you like to eat. I use frozen because they’re so easy). Let it cook all day (8 hrs or so). An hour before you want to eat, take a fork and break up the chicken. Mix up some Bisquick according to directions (it’s something like 2 cups Bisquick, 1 cup water). Spoon this on top; do not mix it in. Let it cook another 45 minutes, until the Bisquick is a little spongy on top. Let cool 15 minutes. EAT."

Here's a nice fall soup recipe from Melissa:

"Hungarian Mushroom Soup (from the Coffee House Cookbook)

3 cups nonfat milk (I use lowfat, it's what we have)
2 small onions, diced
1 tbsp plus 1/4 cup butter
1 tsp salt
2 pounds mushrooms, sliced (cremini are good, button are fine)
4 1/2 tsp dill
2 tbsp plus 1 tsp paprika (yes, that's a boatload of paprika)
2 3/4 cups water or vegetable stock (I use stock when I can)
1/2 cup flour
2 1/4 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 1/2 cups lowfat sour cream

1. Begin warming milk in a saucepan on low heat (I totally skip this step, too lazy to wash all those pots!). In a soup pot, saute onions in 1 tbsp of butter and the salt. When soft, add mushrooms, dill, paprika and 1 cup water/stock. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
2 In a separate saucepan, melt remaining 1/4 cup butter. Whisk in flour forming a roux. Slowly add milk (warm or not) whisking out any lumps. Add roux and milk mixture to the soup pot. Add remaining stock/water and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Just before serving, add soy sauce, lemon juice and sour cream, whisking thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Yield: 10 cups

This is one of our favorite soups and perfect for fall."

Any additions?