Your Top 5 Comfort Foods On Cold Winter Nights

On Monday evening, I threw out a question on our Facebook page, asking our listeners what their favorite comfort foods were on cold, damp nights. We received lots of replies. Some answers were a bit surprising, but for the most part, the suggestions included warm, stick-to-the-ribs type meals.

Compared to most regions of the U.S.A., our winters are very mild. Every few years we may see some snowflakes here in the Las Vegas valley, but it is pretty rare. I have lived here since 1994, and I have never had to shovel my driveway. I do remember one year, I think around 2006, we had enough snow to accumulate on the roads and freeways and driving into the studios that day was kind of treacherous. Having spent seven  years going to high school and college in Vermont, I was able to handle it, no problem.

Basically, we usually get a week or two of really cold nights which hover in the low 30s or upper 20s. But this winter, it seems we have had more than just a couple of weeks of frigid nights. We have also had quite a few more rainy or overcast days and nights too. It really feels like winter around here lately. Heck, we actually had snow here in some parts of the valley on Monday. And those snow-covered mountains surrounding Las Vegas make for some incredible views. I bet you've clicked a photo or two of the mountains near your home.

So, this is what led me to ask the question. On a cold, damp winter night like we have experienced recently, what is your favorite comfort food? What is your "go-to" meal. If you would like to see some of the comments for yourself, CLICK HERE. There were lots of delicious replies, but here are the top five comfort foods from our informal Facebook survey.

Sausage was a popular reply in this informal survey. Some folks mixed in their sausage in some of the other choices in the top 5, like in the mac & cheese, or in the soup they made. One person had ham, beans and homemade corn bread. I'll be right over!

This is one of my "go-to's" on those cold winter days and nights. There's just something awesome about melted cheese on whatever you choose to eat. But, when you cover a bowl of noodles or macaroni in the creamy, tasty, gooey goodness, life just seems right.

When you wake up on a cold, winter morning, it's always a good idea to get the crockpot out of the cupboard, chop up some veggies and your favorite meat, and let that concoction simmer all day long. You arrive home from work later that day and you revel in that amazing aroma wafting through your house. Grab those bowls, ladle out the stew, pot roast, or whatever you slow-cooked, and dig in.

Oh man, the different styles of chili you can enjoy all across our country. Some use beans. Some just use meat. Most use tomatoes, but some folks prefer white chicken chili. There are some delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes out there too. Whether you like to mix in cheese, saltines, or scoop your chili out of a bread bowl, it's always a great comfort food on a cold, winter day or night.

This was the big winner in our informal survey by almost a 3 to 1 margin! But there were so many different choices in the type of soup folks were dishing out. From hearty potato soups and chowders, to chicken and vegetable soup, to a big bowl of French onion soup covered in melted, gooey cheese. Some folks just like to open a can of Progresso. Whichever is your favorite, soup was king. Stay warm and cozy!