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Meal Planning Week 20 – Try these Warm Recipes for Cold Afternoons

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Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

 

It’s cold and snowing. The kids are home from school and they’re hungry. They’ve played most of the morning. Well, if they’re anything like we were with snow days they did. I remember those days, too. Probably the only thing about the Christmas Story movies that I can relate to.

 

How many layers did your mom make you wear in the snow?

 

You see, Mom grew up in Canada. They have a good idea of what cold is and how to keep from getting too cold when outside. That means layers. So, that image of the youngest son getting all bundled up by the other rings so true. And by the time all the layers are on you did have to pee. Because it took a while to get them all on.

 

With all the flavors of the famous cocktail, Bloody Mary Wings are coated in a flavor packed sauce with a little kick. #OurFamilyTable

 

For us, that usually involved tights. We didn’t really have long johns or long underwear. I don’t know why. So, tights were the base layer. I don’t know why. Then some leggings or other thinner pair of pants. Jeans went on next. And finally, sweatpants of some description went on top of the jeans. And that was just the bottom half.

 

The top half had similar layers and the coat with the scarf wrapped clear around the head. Mittens. Because gloves don’t keep your fingers warm. I still swear they don’t. Even with all the omni and reflective heating materials there are out there. My fingers still get cold. And we had to make sure the pants went over the shoes to keep them from getting wet and making out feet cold.

 

Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

 

And as soon as walked in the door, we had to come out of all those layers right inside the door. Where the linoleum floor was. Then we carried everything upstairs to the tub and hung them over the shower rod to thaw and dry out. Or left it in the tub to thaw before being able to hang them over the rod.

 

Why does a grilled cheese and tomato soup go together?

 

How do you warm up after a day of playing in the snow? Hot cocoa or apple cider. Nah. Yes, those drinks are good, but a little too sweet for my taste. What do I want? A grilled cheese and tomato soup. Seriously. It’s the quintessential warm me to my core food after a day of playing in the snow. The basic being American cheese on grilled bread with Campbell’s tomato soup. But most have gotten away from this classic combination.

 

Swap out your corned beef for delicious kielbasa and you've got a different take on a classic. Polish Reuben Grilled Cheese is delicious and easy to make any day of the week. #GrilledCheese

 

The history of the grilled cheese and tomato soup is kind of ironic. I’ll get to that in a minute. In the 20’s sliced bread and American cheese made for an inexpensive lunch or dinner. They became readily available and manufacturers started heavily marketing them. Not necessarily together. That came later.

 

During WWII the grilled cheese sandwich met the nutritional standards as noted by the US Government. Hence the ironic comment in the previous paragraph. The grilled cheese can be found in several government and Navy cookbooks from that time period noting the sandwich as being an inexpensive way to meet nutritional standards for the day.

 

Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

 

However, after the war ended, the nutritional standards received an update. The grilled cheese alone wasn’t sufficient for the dietary requirements of the time. Enter the canned tomato soup. The combination of the grilled cheese and tomato soup met the dietary requirements as set by the US Government.

 

Grilled cheese and tomato soup paved the way for soup and sandwich meals.

 

If the simple grilled cheese and tomato soup is filling enough for the common man, what other soup and sandwich combinations would be just as filling and delicious? Soup and a sandwich lunch gained popular because of the grilled cheese and tomato soup. But I know it’s not the be all end of delicious combinations.

 

French Dip French Onion Soup in a bowl

 

I like my French Dip French Onion Soup with a hearty sourdough and Gruyere grilled cheese. There are a few minestrone recipes on my blog. They are perfect with a caprese panini. Classic French onion soup is perfect with a French dip sandwich or even a turkey club for a lighter fare. Or how about a taco soup and quesadilla? Who says the sandwich has to be between two pieces of bread?

 

Bright and colorful corn chowder pairs well with a BLT sandwich. Especially if the tomatoes are super ripe and sweet. A creamy pea soup is perfect with a melted ham and Swiss sandwich. So it a pot of bean soup minus the ham. Because there’s ham in the Sammy. Or try a bahn mi with a wonton or hot and sour soup. Yes, I know they’re not the same type of Asian, but the flavors would complement each other, I think.

 

Quick Samp and Beans has delicious hominy and curry flavors.

 

What else can you serve with soup besides a sandwich?

 

Bread! Rolls, garlic bread, cheese toasts. No. They’re not a grilled cheese. That has a top piece of bread. Cheese toasts are just one piece of bread. Biscuits or savory scones go well with soup. Popovers! They’re so light and delicious for hearty soups.

 

Salads are also a great side dish for soup. Crisp greens and warm soup are a perfect pair. The salad ingredients should complement the soup, though. Like a zupa Toscana and a radicchio and Parmesan salad. French lentil soup with a crispy goat cheese salad is so good together! Taco soup also pairs well with a black bean and corn salad with avocado dressing.

 

Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

 

What are some delicious hot sandwiches to warm you up?

 

I am a total advocate for sliders. They’re easy to make and you can whip them up for a few people or a crowd of hungry kids. Sometimes it was just the 2 of us and sometimes it was half the neighborhood that showed up hungry for lunch after playing. Sliders are the perfect hot sandwich to dip into a canned soup for a warm lunch after playing in the snow.

 

Monte Cristo sandwiches are great for cold nights. They’re dipped in egg and fried up like French toast. French dip sandwiches are also perfect for cold days. Deli roast beef and some beef consommé or a gravy packet make for a quick French dip sandwich.

 

With only four ingredients, these Bourbon Balls are a family favorite recipe for not only the holidays, but also for your Derby party, too! #ChristmasSweetsWeek

 

What are some ways to warm up with desserts?

 

Now, these bourbon balls aren’t for the kids. These are the grownups! And they will warm the coldest of adults up with their bourbon flavor. And it’s a simple bourbon and powdered sugar combination that I love. And I did grow up making. And sneaking every now and then.

 

Turn on the oven and bake up some cupcakes! Like these caramel vanilla cupcakes. Or have a slow cooker of steamy, hot cocoa simmering while the kids are playing. Of course, some of mine easily whip up in the microwave. Please don’t use a packet! Some milk and chocolate are all it really takes for delicious how cocoa. Toss in a little cinnamon or a dash of cayenne for added flavor and kick.

 

Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

 

Bread pudding! Now there’s a great way to warm up during cold winter nights. Chocolate cobbler or any cobbler for that matter. They’re quick and easy to make a hungry crowd. Lava cakes and skillet cookies are perfect, too. Of course, I’m partial to a good old brownie sundae! With hot fudge and nuts on top with a cherry. That’s the perfect warm dessert for me.

 

I hope you make it through the winter with some of these delicious recipes. They can feed a few or feed many. And they’re great for cold weather lunch or dinner.

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Meal Planning Week 20 - Warm Recipes for Cold Afternoons

Try these Meal Planning Week 20 recipes to warm you up for cold afternoons.  Soups and sandwiches, comfort food appetizers, and fun desserts will keep you warm this winter.

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