The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Fall is my favorite season of the year. The intense blue summer sky lightens, the days get shorter, the air a little crisp. There's football, trees changing into technicolor coats, and the menu changes too. Instead of lighter summer fare, our thoughts and appetites turn to comfort food. Stews, chicken and dumplings, soups, mac and cheese. Of course cider and doughnuts mean fall too. The change in weather seems to bring on cravings for heartier and higher carb food.

We're great fans of Guy Fieri and his program Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives so we've enjoyed touring America in the red Camero to discover over the top comfort food in every region.Someday, we have to do a road trip that includes a lot of Triple D places in the South. But my Yankee roots always show up in my choices when autumn rolls around. Chicken and biscuits probably tops the list with tomato soup and grilled cheese right behind. Pretty basic, but oh so good.

So as we pull out the sweaters and ready our homes for colder weather, let me know what what tops your list of comfort foods. Is it meatloaf? Mac and cheese? I'd love to know.

If you're suddenly hungry for chicken and biscuits here's a quick Chicken ala King. You don't have to slave over a hot stove too long to whip it up. It takes about 15-20 minutes.

2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/4 c. sliced mushrooms
1/4 c. diced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup milk

Saute the mushrooms and onion in 2 T. butter or margarine until onions are translucent. Add soup and milk, stir until smooth. Add chicken, stirring constantly until heated through. You can add some peas or any other vegetable that floats your boat too. Serve over biscuits, toast, puff pastry, etc. Your choice.

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