*This is a collaborative post.

 

We all need a little comfort from time to time (more like all the time), and that’s where comfort foods can come in to add some extra comfort into the day. Comfort food dishes have a unique ability to make us feel all warm and cozy inside. Just imagine, a warm bowl of food on a rainy evening, cuddled up reading. You can just envision the coziness right? That's how comfort foods make me feel at least. Cooking comfort food dishes just like mama can take some serious time and investment, but it's totally worth it. At the end of the process, you've got a delicious dish that can totally transform your mood.

Here are five comfort foods that are totally worth the effort.



Beef Stew

Making a beef stew from scratch can take all day, but the resulting meal is just what you need when you are having a difficult day. The actual prep and cooking isn't all that hard, and it's basically a set it and forget it meal. You just need some meats (pre-chunked or a full chunk to shred once it's cooked - totally preference-based), veggies (like potatoes, carrots, and onions), broth, herbs, spices and, if you have it, some Worcestershire sauce. Dump it all in your crockpot and leave it on the heat for up to eight hours on a low setting. Once cooking is done, it’s good to go. 



Ribs

You don’t necessarily have to cook ribs on the BBQ. You can also just make them in the kitchen. Start by preparing them - let them marinate overnight with your favorite sauce or rub. Transfer them to a tray lined with a baking sheet. Then find out how long to cook ribs in oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually, you’ll need another 30 minutes at that 350 once you've cooked them at 300 degrees for 90 minutes. With ribs, you want to cook them for a long time and at a relatively low heat so that the meat falls off the bone. My mother-in-law often makes hers in the crockpot and you'd be surprised at how perfect they are - that woman can make anything taste amazing.



Dumplings

One of my most favorite comfort foods is chicken and dumplings (pronounced without the "g" of course - dumplins). I've loved them my whole life and I swear there's nothing better. It's a rare treat because my hubby doesn't love them, but if I can get my hands on them I will treat myself to extra servings. These just SCREAM comfort.



Potato Gnocchi

Similarly, potato gnocchi is just as good - it's basically a potato based dumpling compared to a more biscuit like southern dumpling. Making potato gnocchi from scratch can involve a lot of work. You've got to first cook the potato and then combine it with egg, flour, and salt. Then you make the individual gnocchi, which is quite time-consuming. But the results are spectacular when you make gnocchi yourself. Once you’re done, the only thing left to do is make the sauce. I typically dress mine up like any other pasta - alfredo or white sauces are usually really wonderful with gnocchi.



Homemade Croissants

Did you know that you can make croissants at home? It takes a lot of time and good technique - as you might expect - but the results are much more delicious than store-bought versions. I've never made homemade croissants myself, but the way they melt in your mouth is certainly worth the effort. It's definitely something to add to my list of things to make.