As I thought about our theme of comfort food favorites, I struggled to pick just one thing. I even asked my mom what she thought I should write about. She would know, right? She suggested anything that involves mashed potatoes and she’s probably right on target there 🙂 . However, as I thought about it more, my go to foods when I’m feeling run down and just need a good meal are one-pot meals.

I love soups and stews, one-pan sauté dishes and stir-fry of all kinds. These are typically meals with multiple food groups that all cook together. You’re left with a balanced meal, minimal dishes, and for me, leftovers! A bonus benefit of this type of cooking is that it is often flexible and can be adjusted to suit what you have in your kitchen that needs to be used. This time of year, the leftovers from gatherings can get ahead of me, so it is good to have a use-up recipe where I can swap out different proteins, veggies or grains to make a meal.

Spend Smart. Eat Smart. has a lot of recipes like this. Check out our one-pot recipe category for a lot of inspiration. Here are some of my favorites:

• Slow Cooker Pork Roast – adjust the seasonings based on your family’s favorite flavors.
• Beef Stew – swap the veggies to suit what you have.
• Vegetable Soup with Kale and Lentils – use the veggies you have or add leftover cooked beans or meat toward the end of cooking.
• Ramen Noodle Skillet – dress up your ramen noodles with flavors you love.

I hope you are enjoying some comfy time for fun and relaxation as we head toward the new year!