Comfort Food...needed on a daily basis

The last week here in Indiana has been wet, and dreary. Thoughts have turned to comfort food, so I spent a good majority of the day pulling out my cookbooks, reading food blogs and seeing what everyone is cooking. I also decided I had some time to cook, set up and shoot some food shots today as well, so I was cooking away! I made ham, au gratin potatoes and then, decided I needed to use up my heavy cream and made the ultimate, creamed peas! They remind me so much of my Mom's fabulous cooking growing up. My Mom comes from a large Irish family, 8 brothers and sisters, lots of cooking and food in their house. Mom always made huge dinners, every night! My sister Kelli & I learned how to cook most of Mom's meals...meatloafs, chicken and wild rice casserole, beef and pork roasts, turkeys, cornish hens, sauteed brussel sprouts in bacon, crab dip, you name it...we learned how to cook it! I have to admit, I was known for being the only cook while in college...everyone came to my condo in Arizona for a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner, stuffing, mashed potatoes and even real gravy! This year, I will again be serving Thanksgiving Dinner at our home, the whole plan was for the contractor to have the basement finished by that date so I can have a mob of family here. I make all the food, I LOVE making Thanksgiving dinner! Anyway, back to the creamed peas...make a roux...about 2 tablespoons of butter melted in a saucepan, add a spoonful of flour and make a paste. Start adding your cream slowly and working it into your flour, generously add salt & pepper. I add at least 2-3 more tablespoons of butter into the cream/milk. Eventually you will add at least a cup or so of cream/milk. Tasting is neccessary for me as I do not really follow a recipe for a roux. Turn off the roux mixture, add 2 cans of drained baby peas. Let sit in the cream mixture for a while to heat through, serve immediately. I can't tell you how much my family loves these creamed peas! You can also use cauliflower, broccoli, and another one of my favorites, spinach. Fall is certainly upon us and with fall weather comes comfort food, be ready for many blog posts featuring cozy, calorie-ridden recipes such as this! Enjoy!