Well, I don’t know what this weather is going to do. The other day I was in a short-sleeve shirt, and now they are saying it’s going to freeze again this week! I stay so confused !

You know this is the time of year where everyone is trying to stay warm and comfortable. This makes me think of comfort food. I remember as a kid my mom fixing “hobos.” I just love them and still fix them to this day.

What you will need is:

Aluminum foil

Hamburger meat

Potatoes cut in medium-size dice

Onions cut into medium-size dice

Carrots cut in medium rounds

Salt/pepper

Seasonings

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

You take the hamburger meat and patty it out into patties. Season the meat with whatever you like. Take the aluminum foil and lay out big sheets of it. Place the hamburger patty in the center of the aluminum foil sheet. Top the hamburger patty with the onions, carrots and potatoes.

Now, it’s time to wrap all the food up in the foil. Place the “hobo” in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour. These are so easy to make and they are wonderful! If your looking for something fairly cheap, quick and easy — look no further!

I’ve been on a baking kick here lately. I guess with it being so cold outside and being cooped up in the house, what else is there to do?

Chocolate is such a comfort food on a cold day. You can enjoy it with coffee or even warm milk. Here are a couple of recipes I think you might like.

Chocolate Chip Brownie Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

3-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1-1/2 cups sugar

1 Tbs. vanilla

1/4 cup hot water

4 eggs

Directions:

Melt butter and 2 cups chocolate chips together.

In a small bowl, mix flour and baking soda together.

Put melted chocolate mixture in a large bowl. Add sugar and beat for about 5 minutes until smooth. With mixer on add vanilla, and gradually add water. Add eggs one at a time and beat after each addition.

With mixer on low add flour mixture until blended. Fold in remaining 1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Pour into a greased 10-inch round pan. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 35 to 45 minutes. Cool. Store in refrigerator.

German Chocolate bars

Ingredients:

1 Pkg. German Chocolate Cake Mix

3/4 Cup butter or margarine, softened

1 Cup Pecans, coarsely chopped

2/3 Cup Evaporated milk, divided

1 Pkg. (14 oz.) caramels, unwrapped

1 Pkg. (16 oz.) Chocolate chips

1/4 cup coconut, shredded

Directions:

Grease and flour a 9” x 13″ pan.

Combine cake mix, butter, nuts and 1/3 cup evaporated milk.

Press half of mixture into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Melt caramels with remaining 1/3 cup evaporated milk over low heat. When melted, spread over baked cake mixture.

Put chocolate chips on top of caramels and then the remaining cake mixture over the chocolate chips and spread lightly.

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle coconut over the top of the bars. When cool, cut into bars.

I hope you enjoy these! Stay warm on these cold days we have ahead of us and as always..have a good day today and a better day tomorrow!

Note: Jennifer Whaley is the owner and chef of Lemon Grass on Highway 80.