Winter Food Favorites

When it is cold and gloomy outside we seem to crave down-home comfort foods. There is even scientific basis of why us want to eat these heavier and richer foods in the winter. Substantial foods like mashed potatoes, hearty stews, and rich desserts are often higher in fat and calories and break down slower in the body to give us a slower infusion of energy. That can actually raise the body temperature. Of course they can also build up insulation against the cold for us in the form of body fat - not too desirable unless you're a hibernating bear or a squirrel that has to use that energy to survive the winter months. So the trick is balance - find the comforting warm foods that can be lower in calories, eat smaller portions, and/or exercise more.
One of the local comfort foods is cinnamon rolls and chili - an odd combination, but a popular one in Kansas school lunchrooms before the new Dietary Guidelines changed school lunch menus. Those not from Kansas find this odd, but never the less, are more than willing add it to their winter fare. This winter we served that menu for a Community LinC meal, and it was a good dinner as volunteers served up about 180 bowls of chili and many, many cinnamon rolls.
I made my favorite recipe for Cinnamon rolls (blog of March 11, 2014). I made extra, of course, so we would have some at home, and we enjoyed them with an Easy Breakfast Casserole that makes a tasty supper.

Easy Breakfast Casserole 

Ingredients:
12 oz. frozen hash browns (about 4 cups)
8 oz. cubed ham (a good use for a bit of leftover ham in the freezer)
4 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
6 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Add frozen potatoes, ham, and cheese to a large bowl. Toss to combine. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 9-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with milk, salt, and pepper.
Pour the egg mixture over the hash brown mixture. Pat everything down with the back of a wooden spoon.
Bake for 1 hour. The center should be set and the edges should be golden brown.

Serve with a breakfast type bread (cinnamon rolls) and fruit for a healthy and easy brunch or supper.