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Childhood Favorite Comfort Food Meals With My Son

Sajen and Sydney at a Minnesota Wild hockey game

He’s only in his early 20s but my son, Sajen Perry, has a good recollection of childhood comfort food meals. And now that he’s living on his own, he’s learning how to cook and bake for himself and his girlfriend, Sydney.

I asked him to share some of his comfort food favorites on episode 11 of Funeral Potatoes & Wool Mittens, and luckily he said yes.

Tune in as we reminisce about beer chili spaghetti, baked spaghetti with pepperoni, hot dog casserole with potato chips, Chicken In A Biskit chicken strips, chip and mint ice cream brownie dessert with hot fudge, and his favorite hockey practice breakfast—butterscotch muffins and sausage and cheddar hash brown egg bake.

Sajen also talks about high school and hockey, his girlfriend, Sydney, his friend and teammate Joel making music in his recording studio, and he tells me how he reheats leftover pizza so it tastes just like it came from the oven the first time.

And that photo they sent me that made me teary-eyed? It’s this one.

Sydney and Sajen at the kitchen table eating chicken strips

The Comfort Food Recipes

These are the recipes that Sajen and I talk about. The butterscotch muffin recipe is at the end of this post on a recipe card. You may also want to try butterscotch cinnamon chip muffins.

Beer Chili Spaghetti
We crave this spicy spaghetti at least once a month. Don't skip the red onion and shredded cheese on top. Mix and store extra batches of the seasoning mix so you can quickly make this on a weeknight. Be sure to use 2 pounds of ground beef.
Check out this recipe
bowl of beer chili spaghetti topped with cheese and diced red onion
Baked Chicken In A Biskit Cracker Chicken Strips
These chicken strips are coated in Chicken In A Biskit crackers.
Check out this recipe
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Hash brown potatoes, sausage links, eggs and cheese bake into a hot breakfast dish.
Check out this recipe
hash brown breakfast casserole
Baked Spaghetti Marinara with Tiny Pepperoni
It's like cheesy pepperoni pizza and zesty spaghetti all in one dish.
Check out this recipe
T-Boys Hot Dog Casserole
An ultimate comfort food—creamy casserole with potatoes, hot dogs and salty potato chips.
Check out this recipe
Chip and Mint Brownie Ice Cream Dessert
Hot fudge makes the party a happy one.
Check out this recipe

Of course, I had to share of few photos.

A few with his friend Joel. They seemed to always be in charge of the locker room music.

Sajen and Sydney.

And just a few more.

I Want YOUR Funeral Potatoes Recipes

I’m working on a podcast episode for April about all the different ways we make funeral potatoes, cheesy hash browns, hash brown casserole…whatever your family calls it, and I want to include your recipe and name! 

There are a few ways you can participate—the one I am most excited about is for you to mail it to me on handwritten 3×5 recipe or index card, along with your name and the story or any anecdotes about it.

I have a special recipe card cabinet that I want to fill with recipes from around the world, so that’s why I’m requesting that size if possible. My mailing address is 1614 130th Street, Verdi MN 56164.

Or, if you prefer, you can email the recipe to staci@randomsweets.com. I cannot wait to see your family’s recipe!

What are some of your favorite childhood comfort food recipes? Do you still make them?

Sweet wishes,

signature

Butterscotch Muffins

Staci Mergenthal at Random Sweets
A hockey player's favorite, these butterscotch muffins will make you jump out of bed in the morning.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Servings 18 muffins
Calories 241 kcal

Equipment

  • muffin pan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 3.4 ounce package instant butterscotch pudding mix
  • 1 3.4 ounce package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • ¾ cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping

  • cup packed brown sugar
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 18 muffin cups or line muffin pan with cupcake papers.
  • In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, instant butterscotch pudding mix, instant vanilla pudding mix, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, water, and pure vanilla extract.
  • Gently stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture just until combined with some flecks of flour still visible.
  • Scoop muffin batter into cups about 2/3 full.
  • Stir together the brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon. Spoon the topping onto each muffin cup, lightly pressing down with the spoon, just enough for the topping to slightly stick to the batter.
  • Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Store in airtight container up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 241kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 36mgSodium: 194mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 1gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 55IUVitamin C: 0.04mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 1mg
Keyword brunch, butterscotch, cinnamon, muffins, pudding mix

All text and images © Staci Mergenthal • Random Sweets

Tried this recipe?Mention @RandomSweets and tag #OurSweetMidwestLife

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