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Chili When It's Chilly

When the weather turns cold, you can warm your body from the
inside out with a hearty corn bread.

(Family Features) - If you're like most people, you crave hearty stews and casseroles in cold weather, while a light salad satisfies you when it's warm out. It's because you actually burn more calories as your body works harder to keep warm. What's more, people tend to crave "comfort food" when it's cold. Here are some warm favorites that are easy to prepare:

Hot breakfast: Start your morning off right with a hot meal in your belly. Have a hot bowl of grits instead of cold cereal, or whip up a hearty batch of Albers corn meal pancakes to ward off the shivers.

Hot cocoa: Few things beat the feeling of wrapping your hands around a mug of hot cocoa-except maybe that first sweet sip. Make this a staple in your pantry and don't forget the mini marshmallows.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup: This classic combo may take you back to your childhood — a time when rain meant jumping through puddles and snow meant a day off from school. For extra creamy soup, use evaporated milk instead of regular milk.

Buttered mashed potatoes: This delicious side dish can make any meal more comforting. Whether you make it from scratch or from a box, serve it piping hot with melted butter to warm you from the inside out.

Chili with corn bread: No matter how "chilly" it is, this tried- and-true combination is sure to fill you up. The following corn bread recipe complements any kind of chili.

For more recipes like this, including corn meal pancakes, visit VeryBestBaking.com.

Corn Bread

1 cup Albers Yellow Corn Meal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten

PREHEAT oven to 400° F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.

COMBINE corn meal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Combine milk, oil and egg in small bowl; mix well. Add milk mixture to flour mixture; stir just until blended. Pour into prepared baking pan.

BAKE 20 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

SOURCE: Albers Corn Meal