The wind is howling and it feels like minus 2 outside, so what do I think about?  Food.  More specifically, comfort food.  We were chatting this morning about what we make when we want to feel warm inside, and everybody had something special on the menu.  Jen is a fan of Beef Goulash with Dumplings from Simply Recipes.  She made a point to note that yes, you do need the fresh herbs and no, you can make do with really good sweet Hungarian Paprika and, as a sub, a pinch of cayenne for the hot.  And yes, you do need the cake flour.  It makes for a lighter dumpling.

Claire is a fan of the Barefoot Contessa and loves her turkey meatloaf. She jazzes it up by adding a ton of veggies to the mixture:  colorful peppers, red onions, and fresh garlic.  The final touch is a splash of wine, for moisture of course!

Kate, one of our resident vegetarians, has a cute backstory for her choice. "A friend made a Russian vegetable pie (from memory!) for me many years ago.  I was desperate to repeat it, but she didn't have a recipe.  I found this recipe online, tried it out for a holiday dinner one year and was pleased with how closely it matched my memory.  I usually dislike cabbage (I don't even really like cole slaw!) but this pie is fantastic.  I suspect cream cheese and tarragon could make sponges palatable, though."

Anna was torn between two favorites-- tomato soup (out of a can) with lots and lots of crackers or Emeril's famous Triple Chocolate Brownies.  My question is, why choose?

Debbie got right down to basics.  Her best bet for a cold winter night is the Cheeseburger Pie recipe on the back of the Bisquick box.  Now that's what I call comfort food. And who knew, the recipe is so popular they scaled it down so you can make it for two!

Finally, on cold winter nights Pat has two reliable favorites: chicken noodle soup and chicken pot pie.  Her recipes? Just hop in the car and go to Good Food Good Things.  It doesn't get any easier than that!

If you are looking for inspiration in the kitchen, stop by the Library.  Several of us are "foodies" and would like nothing better than to talk cookbooks with you.  We have over 1,600 in our collection and it continues to grow. Until then, stay warm and bon appetit!