Comfort foods for the invalid

Middle Sister is recovering nicely from her surgery on Friday, but we’re being careful with her diet. As it turned out, I was coming down with a respiratory virus while hanging out in the hospital on surgery day (so THAT’S why I felt so completely exhausted even though I was just sitting around…). So the go-to meal tonight was chicken noodle soup. Super easy, and so comforting when we’re not feeling well.

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
4 frozen chicken breasts (no need to thaw first)
1 onion, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
32 oz chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
2/3 of a 16-oz bag of frozen peas and carrots
2/3 of a 16-oz package of noodles

Throw chicken, onion, celery, broth, salt, and pepper into crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours. Use two forks to shred chicken breasts in slow cooker. Cook noodles on stove and add to soup. Place peas and carrots in a colander and run hot water over them for 20-30 seconds. Add peas and carrots to soup and stir. Makes 6-8 servings.

While I had the Crock Pot out, I decided to make a warm breakfast to greet us in the morning. I’m taking the day off to stay home with the girl, but I’m feeling crummy enough that it’s nice to know I don’t have to think about food when I get up. Plus The Husband needs to be at his new office bright and early, and this will send him off with a good start to his day:

Overnight Oatmeal
1 cup steel cut oats
3 1/2 cups water
1 cup milk or half and half
1/3 cup brown sugar
pinch of salt
fruit of your choice (I’ve tried canned peaches, apple pie filling, fresh apples, and craisins – all are good!)

Spray Crock Pot with pan spray, put all ingredients in crock, and stir. OR if you have a large oval slow cooker, as I do, put the ingredients into a bowl that will fit down into the crock. Set bowl in crock and pour water around the outside of the bowl until the bowl is just floating. Cook overnight on low for 8-10 hours. Using the bowl in water method makes for a much easier clean-up, as oatmeal right in the crock tends to stick pretty badly.

I have to include in this “comfort food” catalog that we had the ultimate comfort food last night – a good friend and neighbor brought us a delicious dinner – pork tenderloin with vegetables, home made bread, and the best snickerdoodles I’ve ever eaten. There’s even more comfort when you know the food was made and delivered with such love and concern.  🙂

Advertisement