Comfort Foods

I have some nifty comfort food recipes for the vegetarian (vegan if you want to swap out the regular cheeses like I do) that just wants something soothing on a cold cold day. The recipes include: Smoked Potato Cheese Soup, Salsa Pasta with Lime-Chilli Corn, and a Twisted Mac 'n Cheese.

On today's menu, we'll make the Twisted Mac 'n Cheese, for two.

For the Lime Salsa -
Ingredients
2 Medium Tomatoes (I prefer the kind still on the vine)
1 Yellow Banana Chilli Pepper
1 Lime
1 tsp Paprika (Smoked paprika is good too!)
1/2 tsp Chilli Powder (I use medium)
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Oregano
Ground Pepper (up to 1/4 tsp depending on taste)
Garlic Powder (up to 1/4 tsp depending on taste -- I only use a sprinkle)
Salt

Preparation:
1. Cut lime in half and squeeze completely into a bowl
2. Add paprika, chilli, cumin, oregano, pepper, and garlic powder to lime juice
3. Dice tomatoes and add to bowl
4. De-seed and dice banana chilli, and add to bowl
5. Mix well and let sit at least 15 minutes before using.


For the Basic Mac 'n Cheese -
Ingredients:
2 Cups Orecchiette Pasta
2-3 Tablespoons Olive Oil Margarine (dairy and non-dairy work well)
1/2 - 3/4 Cup of Mild Cheddar Cheese (dairy and non-dairy work well)
1/4 - 1/2 Cup of Milk (dairy and non-dairy work well)

Preparation:
1. Boil the pasta in salted water for about 11 - 15 minutes (until desired texture).
2. Drain and return to pan.
3. Mix in butter until completely melted. (If 2 Tbs are not enough, add another Tbs.)
4. Mix in cheese until well melted into the pasta (some bits left are fine).
5. Stir in milk, 1/4 cup at a time until it makes a creamy sauce.


Now for the fun!

Twisted Mac 'n Cheese -
Ingredients:
1 recipe Basic Mac 'n Cheese
1 recipe Lime Salsa
1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds (salted or unsalted are fine either way)

Preparation: (enough to have seconds!)
1. Prepare lime salsa, set aside.
2. Prepare mac 'n cheese.
3. Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, scoop mac 'n cheese into bowls.
4. Add 1/4 cup of lime salsa on top of each mac 'n cheese.
5. Add a tablespoon full of sunflower seeds to each bowl.
Enjoy!


(If you need more than two... double each recipe -- you can even triple them for a party!)