At times we all find ourselves surrounded by friends or family in need.  They may have just given birth, are recuperating from an illness, or they may be a family in crisis mode -- all of whom could benefit from a little TLC by way of comfort food.  In any or all of these cases, here are three swift-to-whip-up, mostly-one-bowl recipes that can be easily prepared and doubled.  You're sure to be met with welcoming smiles upon delivery!

A few more plusses:  each of these can be made in a disposable tin you can buy at the grocery store; they're all baked at 350° for about 30 minutes;  they can most likely fit into your oven all at once; and taste great re-heated.



Creamy Southern Style Mac & Cheese

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. elbow macaroni
3 cups Mexican mix of jack and cheddar cheese
   (plus another cup, if desired)
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chopped
1/2 cup light sour cream
1 cup reduced-fat milk

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Boil macaroni until al dente, and drain well. While still hot, add the cheese, and mix to coat the macaroni.

In a small bowl, combine the eggs, butter, sour cream, and milk. Add bit by bit to the cheesy macaroni.

Place the macaroni in a lightly oiled 9 x 13 tin, top with additional cheese if desired, and bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly.




Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients
1 32-oz.-bag frozen green beans, thawed
1 10 3/4-oz. can condensed 98% fat-free cream of
   mushroom soup
1/2 cup reduced-fat milk
1 1/3 cup French's fried onions
Freshly ground pepper


Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.

For this lower-fat, lower-sodium version of this popular dish, combine the beans, soup, milk, 2/3 cup of the onions, and a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper in a medium bowl. Fold into a greased tin casserole dish.

Bake for 20 minutes. Crush the remaining 2/3 cup of fried onions and scatter over the top, then bake for 5 minutes more.




Chocolate River Pie

Ingredients
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 teaspoons decaffeinated instant coffee, ground
    in a coffee grinder to a fine powder
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans


Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°.

In a medium glass bowl, combine the butter and chocolate chips. Heat in a microwave oven until mixture is melted and smooth when stirred, about one minute.

Stir in vanilla, coffee, sugar, eggs, and flour until well-blended. Then stir in pecans.

Turn into a buttered 9-inch pie tin. Bake for 25-30 minutes (but don't over bake).  When a cake tester is inserted in the middle, the pie should be overly moist.

If desired, you can serve this with whipped cream, or ice cream.







Lifestyle expert, columnist, and author Joe LoCicero cooks supper every night for his wife and their two young kids.  For more snappy recipes -- and hip baby and housewarming gifts -- check out his website at www.practicalwhimsy.com.  He is a regular contributor to momready.