comfort food Archives - Simply Happenstance

Favorite Fall Recipes

October 30, 2014

:: Favorite Fall Recipes ::

For some reason, cooking and baking in the fall is always so fulfilling for both Nicole and I. Perhaps it’s the slightly crisp, cooler air, the shorter days, or all of the family favorite holidays approaching. What ever the reason… we love to get in the kitchen and cook up some delicious comfort food!

We thought we’d share some of our favorite fall recipes with you today from our archives… a roundup of some of our seasonal favorites! We hope you enjoy them! {xo}

Recipes Pictured Above:

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Homemade Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

October 28, 2014

:: Homemade Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons ::

It’s no secret that Miss Blue and I love watching the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network. Every one of Ina’s recipes is so tasty and worthy of creating in your own home. I recently sat down with my sweet girl and watched an episode featuring this soup. It wasn’t the tomato soup that had me eager to try it out — but the grilled cheese croutons! How could anyone resist those?!

I am an avid recipe review reader. I love to read all about peoples’ likes and dislikes when it comes to a recipe I’m about to make. I definitely changed this one up a bit, adapting some of the herbs, adding a bit of sugar, and by puréeing the soup to make it even creamier. I think that you’ll love the result! [Read more…]

Holiday Yams with Brown Sugar & Pecans

November 5, 2013

:: Holiday Yams with Brown Sugar & Pecans ::

It’s that time of year! The time where we all pull out our favorite family recipes for the holidays! This happens to be one of my personal loves that I make every Thanksgiving! It’s the ultimate comfort food… using yams {or sweet potatoes}, milk, butter, vanilla and pecans! It’s baked to perfection and served warm! Most of the ingredients you most likely have in your pantry… which makes this dish even more enticing!

I know that yams are not always a favorite {especially the candied kind topped with marshmallows that we often find during the holidays}; however, this dish is a great alternative to the typical yams or sweet potatoes served. The rich potato mixture is mildly sweet with a hint of vanilla, and the topping…. perfectly crunchy with the baked pecans, warm brown sugar and melted butter! I promise this will become one of your ‘go-to’ holiday recipes!

I hope that you’ll whip up this tasty dish to serve at one of your holiday get togethers this year! As Julia Child once said, “Everything in moderation…including moderation.” Enjoy, my friends!

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