Cloudy Comfort Food Ideas for Cozy Mood on a Budget

You need

• 2 slices bread
• butter
• 2 slices cheese
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove
• pinch sugar
• salt, pepper

Method

1. Simmer tomatoes with crushed garlic, a pinch of sugar and salt for ~10 min; blend if you like it smooth.
2. Butter the bread on the outside, fill with cheese.
3. Fry on medium until golden both sides and melting.
4. Cut diagonally and dunk.

You need

• good bread
• options: avocado + chilli + lemon / ricotta + honey / beans + cheese

Method

1. Toast the bread well.
2. Pick one topping set and pile it on.
3. Finish with salt, a squeeze of acid, or a drizzle of honey.
4. Eat warm.

You need

• any sturdy veg (potato, squash, carrot, onion)
• olive oil
• salt, pepper
• optional: feta, chickpeas

Method

1. Chop everything into even chunks.
2. Toss with oil and salt on a tray.
3. Roast hot ~30–35 min, turning once.
4. Scatter feta or chickpeas to finish.

You need

• 1 cup red lentils
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• thumb ginger
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 can tomatoes or coconut milk
• rice to serve

Method

1. Soften onion, garlic and ginger; add spices for 30 sec.
2. Add lentils, tomatoes and ~2 cups water.
3. Simmer ~25 min until soft and thick, stirring now and then.
4. Season and serve over rice.

You need

• 1 pack shelf gnocchi
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 garlic clove
• handful spinach
• olive oil
• grated cheese

Method

1. Fry the garlic in oil for 30 seconds.
2. Add tomatoes and gnocchi, simmer ~8 minutes until gnocchi is tender.
3. Stir through spinach until wilted.
4. Top with cheese off the heat.

You need

• 1 large baking potato
• butter
• filling: beans, cheese, tuna-mayo or coleslaw
• salt

Method

1. Prick the potato, microwave 8–10 min, then crisp in a hot oven 10 min (or all-oven for an hour).
2. Split, fluff and butter.
3. Add your filling.
4. Season well.