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Comforting Little Casseroles

The author holding a small square casserole dish of shepherd's pie.
Photo by Janneke Vreugdenhil

Tender, sweet and well-spiced stewed meat topped with cheese-encrusted creamy mashed potatoes…need I say more? True, they do take time, but when you’re done you’ll have a wealth of comfort food to squirrel away for later.

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This traditional dish of beef, sour cream, and mustard may have originated in Russia, but it’s about time for a version with ramen noodles, don’t you think?
An ex-boyfriend’s mom—who emigrated from Colombia—made the best meat sauce—she would fry sofrito for the base and simply add cooked ground beef, sazón, and jarred tomato sauce. My version is a bit more bougie—it calls for caramelized tomato paste and white wine—but the result is just as good.
Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.
Who says latkes have to be potato? Brussels bring a delicious cruciferousness.
This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.
This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.
This dish is not only a quick meal option but also a practical way to use leftover phở noodles when you’re out of broth.
In this lasagna, soft layers of pasta and béchamel are interspersed with a rich tomato sauce laden with hearty Mediterranean vegetables.