Finding Comforts

Life is full of stresses. On top of all of our normal stresses we’re worried about a global pandemic, an economic recession, an election filled with tension…all while not really being able to leave home or see those we normally rely on for support.

Fall is a natural time to find comfort in food. The weather cools (this year it felt like it happened over night) and it naturally make me want to turn on the oven and make foods that feel comforting. I’m going to make my mom’s pumpkin bread which is my absolute favorite and surrounds me in nostalgia and I’m sure a host of other things. I did make a chocolate loaf cake two weeks ago, just because and it was delicious.

Since the weather’s cooled but we’re still benefiting from the summer harvest, I started with rice-stuffed tomatoes. It’s basically tomato risotto-stuffed tomatoes. This recipe comes from the Smitten Kitchen. I don’t usually adapt her recipes but I didn’t have bread crumbs, so I just put Pecorino Romano cheese on top. If you’re feeling too lazy to make the risotto you can also scoop out the insides of the tomatoes, mix them with bread crumbs, then return the mixture and bake.