(Family Features) Transitioning from high-yield meals that serve a crowd to easy, homemade dinners can be a bit of a shock after the festivities are over. Save yourself the time and hassle of cooking after a season of gifts and gatherings with this Grilled Chicken Bundt recipe that lets the grill do the work for you. For more time-saving family dinner ideas, visit Culinary.net.

Grilled Chicken Bundt

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy” Servings: 4-6

• 4          potatoes
• 2          carrots
• 8          Brussel’s sprouts
• oil
• 2          tablespoons garlic powder, divided
• 2          tablespoons onion powder, divided
• 2          teaspoons salt, divided
• 1          whole chicken (4-5 pounds)
• 1/2       stick butter, softened

1. Heat grill to 350 F with one burner off for indirect heat.
2. Cut potatoes, carrots and Brussel’s sprouts into bite-sized pieces. Drizzle with oil and mix in 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon salt; set aside.
3. Rub chicken with softened butter, remaining garlic powder, remaining onion powder and remaining salt.
4. Place some veggies in bottom of bundt pan. Place chicken on top of chimney or tube of bundt pan. Fill pan with remaining veggies.
5. Place pan over indirect heat and grill 1 hour, 30 minutes, or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165 F.

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Mix a Little Luck into Your Big Game Menu

(Family Features) Picture this: Your team is down three points, but the taste of victory is just one field goal away. Sometimes, all you need is a little luck and a whole lot of guac. After all, an estimated 250 million pounds of avocados are consumed during the Big Game each year, according to Hass Avocado Board Volume Data. That’s enough to fill 30 million football helmets with guac – but filling your belly instead is a win-win for good luck and great flavor. Dip into good fortune this football season with help from Avocado From Mexico’s Guac Guru, Rob Riggle, whose visionary Good Luck Guac recipe is ready to share just in time for the Big Game. Whether you’re in it for the football, the commercials or the snacks, this recipe can score major points with your entire crew. Crafted for fans of every team, this bold, golden twist on a favorite football snack is infused with ingredients associated with good luck – edible gold flakes and pomegranate seeds – to get you through the most nail-biting moments of the game. The star ingredient is fresh, high-quality Avocados From Mexico that offer good taste, good nutrition, and good times. Beyond delicious dips, chips and lots of fun, hosting a watch party can also be a lot of work. Make sure your hosting duties don’t create interference or put you on the sidelines with these tips: Get a jumpstart on party prep. The day before the game, tidy up your space and prepare as much of the food as you can. For dishes best served fresh – like guac – take care of the ingredient prep, like chopping veggies. Create comfortable seating and viewing areas. For a watch party, you’ll want plenty of room for guests to sit comfortably where they can see the screen and have easy access to the guac. If there’s not enough space in the living room to fit everyone, consider bringing a TV to the kitchen so people can snack and watch at the same time. Know your guests. From non-alcoholic beverage options to additional entertainment like board games and kid-friendly activities, become a next-level party host by providing a setup tailored to your guests’ needs. One thing almost everyonecan agree on: Guac made with Avocados From Mexico can be the star of nearly any party’s snacking lineup. Make it your team’s lucky day with more game day recipes at AvocadosFromMexico.com/recipe.  

Good Luck Guac

Recipe courtesy of Rob Riggle on behalf of Avocados From Mexico

• 4          Avocados From Mexico, halved, pitted and peeled
• 1          tablespoon lime juice
• 1          tablespoon onion, minced
• 3          tablespoons pomegranate seeds
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1          pinch edible gold leaf flakes

1. In large bowl, mash avocados until chunky-smooth.
2. Fold in lime juice, onion, pomegranate seeds and salt until well combined.
3. Garnish with edible gold leaf flakes.

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What Are Comfort Foods—and Why Do We Crave Them?

Food & Beverage | The Knowledge Comfort foods are more than just meals—they are emotional touchstones. From a bowl of chicken noodle soup to a plate of mac and cheese, comfort foods provide familiarity, warmth, and reassurance during moments of stress, illness, or nostalgia. While comfort foods vary by culture and personal experience, their purpose is universal: they make us feel grounded, safe, and connected.

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What Defines Comfort Food?

Although comfort foods differ from person to person, they often share common characteristics:

• Familiar and nostalgic – Foods tied to childhood or family traditions
• Warm and filling – Soups, casseroles, stews, and baked dishes
• Emotionally satisfying – Comforting beyond physical hunger
• Rich in carbohydrates or fats – Which can influence mood-regulating chemicals in the brain

These foods are rarely chosen for convenience alone—they’re chosen because they feel like home.

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The Science Behind Comfort Foods

There is real science behind why comfort foods make us feel better. Carbohydrate-rich foods can increase the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and promote a sense of calm. Warm foods also play a role. Studies suggest that warmth can enhance feelings of safety and emotional comfort, which may explain why soups, stews, and hot meals are commonly craved during stressful times or colder seasons. In short, comfort foods don’t just satisfy hunger—they support emotional well-being.

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Comfort Foods Are Cultural

Every culture has its own version of comfort food, shaped by tradition, availability, and shared history:

• United States: Mac and cheese, meatloaf, mashed potatoes
• Mexico: Tamales, pozole
• Italy: Pasta, lasagna
• Japan: Ramen, curry rice
• India: Dal with rice

What makes these foods comforting isn’t the recipe—it’s the memory and meaning attached to them.

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Why We Turn to Comfort Foods

People often crave comfort foods during moments of emotional or physical vulnerability, including:

• Stress or anxiety
• Illness or fatigue
• Homesickness
• Major life changes
• Celebrations and family gatherings

In uncertain moments, familiar flavors help restore a sense of normalcy and emotional balance.

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More Than a Meal

Comfort food isn’t about indulgence or nutrition alone—it’s about connection. These dishes link us to people, places, and moments that shaped us. That’s why comfort foods endure across generations, cultures, and changing trends. Comfort food doesn’t just feed the body. It feeds the moment.

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Related Reading

• Why We Crave Comfort Foods – Smithsonian Magazine
• Why Comfort Foods Comfort – Psychology Today
• Why Comfort Foods Make Us Feel Better – Harvard Health
• Comfort Food and Cultural Identity – National Geographic
• The Science Behind Comfort Foods – BBC Future

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