Our Most Comforting Recipes in Times of Sorrow

By Lisa Cericola
February 16, 2017
Credit: BETH DREILING HONTZAS
Whether there was a death in the family, someone is in the hospital, or life has taken a difficult turn, we all face difficult challenges from time to time. A home-cooked meal can’t fix a tough situation, but it can definitely provide comfort when it is needed most.
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What to take someone going through a tough time

Credit: Greg DuPree

In times of need, Southerners show up. Usually with a casserole dish in hand. Freezer-friendly foods like soups or casseroles are always a smart idea to bring to someone who is unable to cook because the dish can be eaten right away or saved for later, if the recipient’s refrigerator is already full (which tends to happen during a crisis). But if you think the person in need will be bombarded with casseroles, try a simple roasted chicken dinner or comforting chicken pot pie. A batch of homemade cookies is another sweet way to let someone know you’re thinking of them. If you don’t have time to cook, pick up a rotisserie chicken, a pre-washed salad mix, and some cookies from the supermarket’s bakery section. A bunch of flowers is always welcome too.

Recipe: Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

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Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie

Recipe: Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie

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BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens with Potatoes and Carrots

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: BBQ Rub Roasted Chickens with Potatoes and Carrots

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White Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies

Recipe: White Chocolate Chip-Oatmeal Cookies

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What to bring to a funeral

Credit: Southern Living

At Southern wakes or repasts, the dishes tend to outnumber the people. The best type of dish to bring to a funeral is something that is portable and can serve a lot of people warm or at room temperature. Think: pound cake, chicken salad, pasta salad. That said, this is not a picnic—people are in need of serious comforting. Which is why rich, comforting dishes like potato casseroles or lasagna are always appreciated too. If you were close to the deceased, you could bring something that he or she loved. Was he obsessed with fried chicken? Did she love your Easter carrot cake? Even if it the dish might seem a little random, it’s an easy way for people to remember happier times.

Recipe: Million Dollar Pound Cake

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

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Tarragon Chicken Salad

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tarragon Chicken Salad

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Classic Lasagna

Recipe: Classic Lasagna

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Mama's Fried Chicken

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mama's Fried Chicken

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Carrot Cake with Chèvre Frosting

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Carrot Cake with Chèvre Frosting

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Warm & Comforting Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew

Recipe: Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew

This warm, comforting stew can be made in just two steps with the magic of your slow cooker. The recipe calls for sausage, leeks, collards, and pasta – so it's a Southern dish with some Italian flair. A little heavy cream brings richness to the broth. Serve up this family favorite with a warm loaf of crusty bread (and, a glass of red wine!).

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What to make when someone is under the weather

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Soup is the obvious way to take care of a sick family member or friend, and our slow cooker Soulful Chicken Soup is one of our favorite versions of this classic recipe. Or try a vitamin-packed Sweet Potato Soup, topped with toasted pecans. If your loved one can stomach something a little more substantial, our Chicken Bog is a comforting but not-too-heavy mix of shredded chicken, rice, and vegetables. Or blend up a batch of Yogurt-Fruit Smoothies to sip while recovering (and watching Netflix).

Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup

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Sweet Potato Soup

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Sweet Potato Soup

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Chicken Bog

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken Bog

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Yogurt-Fruit Smoothie

Recipe: Yogurt-Fruit Smoothie

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What to make when you need to brighten someone’s day

Turn around a tough week at work or cheer someone up after a bad break-up with a batch of brownies. Trust us, they always do the trick. If you think they'd appreciate something a little more virtuous, try a batch of banana muffins. They travel—and freeze—well.

Recipe: So-Good Brownies

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Brown Sugar-Banana Muffins

Recipe: Brown Sugar-Banana Muffins

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What to eat when you’re eating your feelings

When you’re the one feeling low, you want maximum comfort with minimum effort. That might mean reaching for a pint of ice cream, but if you can summon the energy to make yourself something from scratch, you might enjoy the distraction—or at least the delicious product of your distraction. You can’t beat mac and cheese. Or you could whip up a silky dish of our homemade chocolate pudding, the ultimate comfort dessert, or another childhood favorite (upgraded and super-sized): a Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie. This ooey-gooey cookie is designed to share, but rules don’t apply when you’re really in need.

Recipe: Chocolate Pudding

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Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Recipe: Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

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Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Credit: BETH DREILING HONTZAS

Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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