Image from Flickr

If someone is going to give us an excuse to eat comfort food – we’ll take it!  And coming from Nigella Lawson, it’s sure to taste good.

The celebrity chef was featured on NPR’s Morning Edition today, sharing her advice for cold winter temps.  The secret to staying warm, she says, is to indulge oneself on a comfort food or two and not let guilty thoughts ruin the experience.  After all, what good is consuming your daily caloric intake in one meal if you don’t fully enjoy the experience?

Her recipe for cheddar risotto – a dish sure to warm the soul – caught our eye.  Also featured, doughnut french toast.

Nigella Lawson’s Cheddar Risotto

Real Simple / Kan Kanbayashi

With rain in the forecast for at least half of the weekend in Washington, we’re planning to get started with some comfort food cooking at home.  On our menu is some family-recipe chili and southern spoonbread; sure to have us laid up on the couch for hours watching football.

But if you’re in the mood for something different, Real Simple has just offered its readers a great list of “25 Dishes to Warm the Heart.” Included on the list are some outstanding selections, with recipes provided:

Mac & cheese
Meatloaf
Chicken pot pie
Old fashioned beef stew
Corn chowder
Molassas baked beans

And pictured above, Mint-infused lamb chops with sweet potatoes…

Personal honorable mentions also go to beef brisket, home-smoked ribs, and anything that features fall varieties of squash and pumpkin.