The whipping wind chills Fairfield students’ ears as they brave the cold commute to class. Some students may choose to avoid the crisp weather by curling up with an enthralling mystery or romance novel, while sipping a hot cup of chamomile tea. Personally, in order to combat winter’s treachery, I enjoy stuffing my face with my favorite cold weather comfort food.
After the high of the Christmas season finally diminishes, the gloomy months of January, February and March soon follow with seemingly never ending low temperatures and poor road conditions. Speaking from experience, slipping on ice covered sidewalks simply attempting to arrive at class on time hurt my tailbone, as well as my fragile ego.
Since the silly groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow on Feb. 2, six long weeks of winter still await us. In order to help you combat this mind-numbingly cold weather, I have compiled a few comfort food ideas to try, perfect to cook with your roommates during a foreboding day when leaving the warmth of your room is simply not an option.
I think it goes without saying, but to be considered a real comfort food, the meal has to include the best ingredient ever created by a cow or goat: cheese. Food Network’s Scalloped Cheesy Potatoes are thinly sliced potatoes repeatedly layered in a large casserole dish and baked thoroughly in milk or cream until tenderized. Variations of this warm, ooey-gooey dish may include tasty additions such as ham, bacon and various vegetables, everything you need in the ideal comfort food dish. The perfect ratio of crust to cream, Scalloped Cheesy Potatoes make the quintessential side dish for any holiday meal, whose delicious cheese may even stop Uncle Ed and Cousin Sid from bickering over whose political ideas are more correct than the other. For those who choose to endure the cold journey to the Tully dining hall, on certain days, Scalloped Cheesy Potatoes are served for students to enjoy.
Continuing with the theme of cheese, you can never go wrong with a scrumptious bowl of macaroni and cheese (try and prove me wrong, I dare you!). The Millionaire’s Mac and Cheese recipe from the Food Network website incorporates an unorthodox twist on the traditional side everyone knows and loves. A combination of three types of cheese, (yes, you heard me correctly!) sharp cheddar, creamy fontina and melty gouda, make this unique mac and cheese recipe unlike any other. To top off the already extravagant flavors melting on the tongue, browned truffled breadcrumbs finish off the most exquisite macaroni dish you have ever seen. WARNING: this dish may make you ascend to mac and cheese heaven, so beware!
Closing the cheese category off on a strong note, a perfectly sauteed grilled cheese in a frying pan cannot be beaten on a cold winter’s night. Fire & Iron Grill located in The Stag Snack Bar offers students a take-out option, which is extremely beneficial for a quick meal after running back from the RecPlex in near blizzard conditions (definitely not based upon a real experience!). Certain food trucks in the Food Truck Village also offer specialty grilled cheeses for students to purchase on a rotating schedule. Food Network’s Pepperoni Grilled Cheese sounds absolutely splendid, with the addition of a clove of garlic, fresh parsley and of course, exactly 24 slices of pepperoni.
First-year management student, Katie Dalaklis, says the grilled cheese and fries Fire & Iron serves is her go-to meal when she is craving comfort food. Depending on how she is feeling, Katie says she grabs a grilled-to-perfection sandwich from either, “The Stag, The Levee, or the Sandwich Lab in the Tully.”
I feel I cannot discuss comfort food without including the ultimate bowl, brought willingly or unwillingly to any sick person ever in existence: soup. Chicken noodle soup, as well as chicken and dumpling soup, are hot bowls of happiness that are considered classics for a reason. The proclaimed best Chicken and Dumpling Soup from the Food Network website includes a step-by-step process of creating the idealistic soup for those days where staying in and watching a movie is the only option. Fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, parsley and a bay leaf bring out the best flavors of the Food Network’s best Chicken Noodle Soup. Occasionally, the Tully serves delectable chicken and dumpling soup, so make sure to grab a ladle and serve yourself some.
To help you stay cozy during these lingering winter weeks that hopefully are quickly dwindling, here are some comforting recipes to enjoy on those days when braving the cold simply is not the best option for your chattering teeth and frostbitten fingers.
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