FIVE FRIDAY FAVES-2nd edition!

          I hope you all got your shopping lists ready to make Renny's Healthy Zucchini Lasagna, if you haven't, click the link and get ready because it is time for this week's...
                                    5 Friday Faves!
  This is our weekly event when I ask, "What's your favorite_______?"  and then we give you our answers!  We have a lot of fun with it and hope you will, too as you consider what your answer would be.  When you think of your answer, please share it with us in the comments! We would love to hear it.
           So, here is this week's question:  "What is your favorite comfort food on a cold, rainy or snowy day?"  The weather all over the country has been pretty unpredictable and even in Phoenix we have had some chilly days.  All of the answers given this week really work for me!  

         Alicia got to cheat last week, so this week we will start with her favorite. Alicia actually lives where it is pretty cool and rainy year round. When I asked her the question, she immediately gave this answer:  Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. 

            Alicia's grilled cheese has come a long way since I was a kid! We used to butter bread and stick it in a pan to toast it as the cheese melted on the inside.  Alicia uses her  panini maker  to get those nice toasty grill lines on her bread. (I gave my kids panini makers for Christmas last year, but failed to get one for myself.  I may need to rectify that situation.)   And that isn't any old slice of cheese either. You could use Provolone, Havarti or Gruyere, like Alicia used here. Just looking at this picture makes me want to take that sandwich and dip it in the soup and bite it.  The cheese would stretch out of it and it would be so warm and delicious!  Yum!  Good choice Alicia!  

            The second Fave comes from Lindsey.  On a cold day, she likes to snuggle up and enjoy a big bowl of Chili and a slice of Cornbread! 

          You know Lindsey tries to be the super healthy eater, so her chili is usually made with turkey.  She makes it in a crock pot.  One of her specialties is Pumpkin Chili, which I am sure we can get her to give us the recipe for one of these days on Renny's Recipes.  Also for the amazing Cornbread that she invented herself!  This makes me feel warm just thinking about eating it!

              Madalynn is eating pretty healthy lately as well.  She is limiting her meat intake and going for a lot of vegan options.. Remember these amazing chocolate cookies? She still has a sweet tooth, but is finding healthier ways to satisfy it.  When I asked her for her favorite cold weather comfort food, she said,  "Cinnamon Rolls!".   Then she proceeded to make these vegan, yeast free ones!  She has even given you the recipe!

These are super good! I was surprised as I ate one to hear that they don't have yeast because the texture is so good.

Instant Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

               Now for my choice!  When I was a little girl, we lived out in the country.  We had a long driveway to walk down when the weather was cold after we got off of the school bus.  Many times, my mom would have warm butterscotch pudding waiting for us to have as a snack when we got in from the cold.  The pudding was still a little warm but soft set.  It was delicious and it also warmed my heart, so whenever I think of comfort food, I think of Butterscotch Pudding.

             Now, if you make Butterscotch Pudding from a box, that is okay, but make sure it is the cook and serve kind, not instant!  Yuck!  The cooked kind is so much better.  This time, I used my Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook recipe for Butterscotch Pudding from scratch.  That link goes to the edition I have.  Here is a newer edition.  This cookbook has been a go to for me throughout my married life. We received it as a wedding gift.   When you make pudding from scratch, you use the egg yolks and not the whites.  So, I made a little meringue with the egg whites, and browned them with my  creme brulee torch.  Then, I drizzled a little caramel sauce over the top.  They were delicious, if I say so myself.  The bonus was that I got to use the torch, it is so much fun to use.  This set comes with little ramekins for your creme brulee! 

            That was 4!  Are you ready for #5?  This week our special guest is Jessica Reynolds, my DIL and genealogy buff extraordinaire!   She has a blog called "Do As I'm Doing"  where she teaches some fabulous things about finding your ancestors and making a book like this one that she gave to my husband for Christmas.  She spells out so clearly how to do it and includes things in the book that you may have never thought of including or even how to do it.  
             So, I asked Jessica what her favorite cold weather comfort food is and she said that when it rains her mom would always say it was time to make cookies!  So, that is when she bakes cookies! Chocolate Chip Cookies and she uses the recipe on the back of the bag. 

Yum! Just need a glass of milk, or better yet, in cold weather, a Hot Cocoa Bomb!

             So, that is our Five Friday Faves!  I hope we have warmed you up a little just reading our selections and maybe you can find some comfort from all of the cold weather out there! Let us know if you have a fave that we should know about!  
                Come back tomorrow and read about Alicia's Non Valentine's Day Party and Date ideas!  She always has fun plans to share.  You won't want to miss them!