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Fall Into Comfort Food

As the weather cools and leaves begin to fall, there’s nothing better than cozying up with warm, nourishing comfort food that boosts both your mood and your wellness. In my last article I discussed eating the bounty of fresh seasonal vegetables available at various times of the year. When I was growing up, my parents had another type of seasonal eating; we ate certain types of meals during certain seasons. For example, my mother’s chicken and dumplings was one of my favorites, but we only had that during the Fall and Winter. According to my mother, that was a “cold weather meal.”


That philosophy stuck with me. I find myself cooking more hearty, comfort meals like stews and casseroles when the weather cools and the days get shorter. Often, this comfort food is what I call “Dump Meals.” What is a Dump Meal, you ask? Although the name isn’t necessarily appetizing, some of my favorite recipes started as Dump Meals.

“Food is the most primitive form of comfort.”
Sheila Graham

Fall Comfort Food Made Easy

A Dump Meal is a creative way to use/dump what’s in your refrigerator, freezer and pantry to create something delicious. You don’t have to be a chef to create it. Just let your palette be your guide. For a casserole, here is what you need:

A grain or pasta from your pantry.
Vegetables from your refrigerator, freezer, or pantry.
A protein such as ground or chopped meat, poultry, seafood, or canned beans.
Aromatics like onions, celery, peppers and carrots to add flavor.
Your favorite seasonings/spices.
A binder such as tomato sauce, white sauce, pan sauce, cheese sauce.
Chicken/vegetable broth (you can find recipes online for various sauces, or you can use a pre-made sauce).
Optional topping such as breadcrumbs, cheese, or crushed crackers.

A Cozy Dish: Homestyle Chicken Casserole

Below is a homestyle casserole I created that is a hearty, one-dish meal. Feel free to make substitutions on the protein, grain, cheese, and vegetables based on what you have on hand. The baking directions work for most casseroles, regardless of the ingredients. Enjoy!

Homestyle Chicken, Vegetable & Rice Casserole

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword casserole, comfort, easy, one dish
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • 1 casserole dish

Ingredients

  • 4 servings cooked brown rice
  • cups broccoli crowns chopped
  • 1 cup mushrooms sliced
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ¼ cup ranch dressing
  • ¼-½ cup sharp cheddar cheese grated
  • ½ cup Italian blend cheese shredded
  • 1 pound chicken tenderloins
  • poultry seasoning to taste
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • butter to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle chicken with poultry seasoning and bake at 375 degrees for 20-23 minutes, or until cooked through to a temperature of 165 degrees. Cool chicken and shred.
  • Turn oven down to 350 degrees. Sauté broccoli, onions and mushrooms in butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Stir together cooked rice, vegetables, chicken and cheddar cheese. Stir in sour cream, Ranch dressing and chicken broth. Place in casserole dish and top with Italian cheese.
  • Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes or until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through.
Nourish Your Body with Good Fuel

Lisa Woodie

About the Author:

Chef Lisa Woodie, owner of Homemade Fresh, LLC, provides tips and recipes to nourish your body with whole food fuel. She relocated her business to the Hendersonville area in 2022 after serving clients in Charlotte for 11 years. Homemade Fresh is a meal preparation business that personalizes meal plans based on each client’s tastes, preferences, and dietary requirements. She plans your meals, shops for the ingredients, prepares and packages the meals, and leaves them in your refrigerator with easy heat-and-eat instructions. She also provides service for dinner parties, paired food and wine tastings, events with hors d’oeuvres, and other types of catered events. For more information, visit www.homemadefresh.net.

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