You know those days where you draw back the curtains only to reveal a dark and rainy day ahead? These are the perfect days to throw on your comfiest sweats, light a few candles and surrender to the couch with a stack of movies.
We live for those days during the Winter months! Time to spend with family, unwind and relax. The only thing that can make it better is some delicious food. The kind of comforting home dishes that it’s best not to count the calories and simply enjoy.
For such lazy days, we’ve pulled together some tasty recipe ideas for you to try out when the rain is pouring and the fire is roaring.
Let’s take a look!
Loaded fries
One of life’s true pleasures is a humongous plate of chips topped with even more delicious treat foods. Right?
You can use oven chips or make your own if you’re feeling adventurous. Maybe even opt for sweet potato fries? Whatever you choose, the real fun starts with the toppings. Season the chips with salt and pepper to get started. Cheese is always a shout - mozzarella or vegan cheese. Here are some topping ideas to help you get started:
- Crispy bacon
- Grilled peppers
- Jalapenos
- Beans
- Pulled pork
- Sweet chilli sauce
- BBQ chicken
- Garlic mayonnaise
Pot roast
This is the perfect recipe idea for those dark and dull Sundays. All with a little help from your trusty pal the slow cooker! Start by prepping your veggies in the morning. Make sure not to cut them small or they won’t hold well being in the slow cooker for hours. Add in your choice or meat, beef is most commonly used for a pot roast but you can choose whatever you like. Pour in gravy or any type of meat or veggies stock. Finally, raid the spice rack and season with gorgeous flavours and herbs (if you grow fresh herbs, definitely chuck them in!). You can use garlic cloves also, fresh coriander and a few slices of lemon can be a great addition.
That’s it! Simply leave to simmer for around 8 hours and go enjoy your Sunday spent cuddled up on the couch knowing you’ve got a delicious roast waiting for you later.
Garlic bread
Is there anything that garlic bread doesn’t taste amazing with? Creamy mac & cheese, classic spaghetti Bolognese, anything! So, why not have a go at making your own when you're stuck indoors? Combine butter, garlic powder and any seasonings of your choice (black pepper, chive, oregano). Mix well then spread evenly onto your bread and top with cheese if you wish. Use a baguette or make your own dough to create a tear ‘n’ share style garlic bread. Pop into the oven, sit back and wait for the kitchen to be engulfed in a heavenly scent of garlic.
Homemade chilli
Oh another cold day classic! One for those who like a little spice. The essence of a good chilli is the vegetables and the seasoning, from there on you’ve got complete creative freedom. Chop and cook your vegetables, ensuring to include plenty of diced tomatoes, onion, garlic and, of course, chilli in the mix. You can also add a meat or vegetable based stock to really bring out the flavour. Mince or beef are commonly used in chilli but you can really customise it to you and your family’s tastes. Black beans are a fantastic veggie option. Once cooked, serve with rice and maybe a French baguette to soak up all of that delicious sauce. Yum!
Soup
Nothing is quite as apt for cosy days spent indoors when it’s cold and rainy outside as piping hot soup. There are so many different recipes and flavour combinations to choose from but sometimes the best way to do it is simply look at what you already have. Got some veggies that need used up? Chuck them in and see what wonderful concoction you come up with.
If you need a little inspiration, then check out this recipe for butternut squash and sweet potato soup from our Cooking with Sophie blog series. Or, some of our other favourites below.
- Ham and split pea
- Chicken noodle soup
- Leek, bacon and potato
- Roasted pepper, paprika and sweet potato
- Tomato and pesto
Cake in a mug
Something for those with a sweet tooth. This cake in a cup recipe is so easy to make and is the perfect movie marathon snack. Find yourself a lovely mug and add flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and milk. You can easily make this recipe vegan by using non-dairy milk and vegan chocolate. Once you’ve mixed the cake batter together you can start to add in some sweet treats. You can add chocolate chips, crushed Oreos, Nutella, even coffee! Whatever you like. Once you’re happy with your flavours, simply pop your mug into the microwave and for around 90 seconds and watch the magic happen.
We’d love to know what your favourite rainy day recipes are - share yours in the comments!
Quince & Cook x
