Good Foods to Make on a Cold, Rainy Day

A cold rainy day is a wonderful time to cuddle up and enjoy the comfort of the home. It makes me homesick thinking of how Mom would prepare hot chicken soup, or hot pudding over a cup of chocolate and milk.

While some people say a creamy chowder soup is perfect and others find oatmeal with honey so good, still many of us find a hot cup of brewed coffee with garlic toast the best. If you're thinking of something new, one good treat for a rainy day is a good brunch. It could be so gratifying.

Since a brunch doesn't have to be elaborated to be wonderful, a simple savory dish with spring vegetables can be enough to give you a warm and delicious start of a cold, rainy day.
Savory Baked Brunch Strata
You'll need:


8-10 slices of bread, torn into bite size pieces

1/2 cup diced fresh mushrooms

1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped finely

16 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup onion, chopped finely

2 cups cooked ham, diced

8 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups milk

Cooking Instructions:

Layer half of the torn bread pieces in a greased baking pan or casserole baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the mushrooms and green bell pepper over the bread. Divide cheese into two and sprinkle half on top of bread. Layer the remaining bread pieces on top of cheese followed with onion and ham to top the bread. Spread the other half of the cheese. Beat the eggs and milk until fluppy then pour over the baking dish covering the entire strata. Cover with aluminum foil and put inside the refrigerator. Leave overnight.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake your strata covered for 30 minutes. After the time, remove the foil and bake further for another 15 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve with a cup of hot chocolate.
Note: For more convenience, prepare all the work the afternoon or night before then cook that morning.
Apple Coffee Cake for a Sweet Brunch
You'll Need:


1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup whole milk

1 apple, peeled and sliced

Cooking Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375A�F. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt, mix thoroughly. In a small bowl, mix cinnamon with 1/4 cup of sugar. Set aside. With a hand or electric mixer; beat butter with eggs and remaining sugar. Gradually add the flour mixture alternating with the milk, beating after each addition.

Pour half of the batter into a greased baking pan or casserole baking dish. Layer the apple slices on top of batter then sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Spread remaining batter over the apples and sprinkle the remaining cinnamon-sugar on top.

Bake for 30 minutes or until top of cake top is golden brown. Since Apple Coffee cake is something on the sweet side, its perfect when matched with a hot cup of brewed coffee.