encystment negotiation: 10 Comfort Food Recipes for Veteran's Day

veterans day cover2 Veterans Day Recipes: 12 Comfort Dishes Inspired by Soliders Favorite Foods
While it probably doesn?t rank with home and family, for service members stationed abroad, favorite foods properly prepared are sorely missed. When my father was stationed in Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War, he longed for crispy bacon, and food that didn?t need hot sauce to be palatable. In honor of Veteran?s Day, here are 12 delicious and comforting foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert to make the veteran in your life even happier to be home. These are mostly old favorites, because in the end what makes a home-cooked meal something you dream of isn?t that it?s complicated, it?s that it?s home-cooked.

Whole Wheat Blueberry Pancakes
Embedded journalist Luke Heikkila wrote on his blog Bridging War & Hope that he missed, "eating a bowl of cereal at 9:30 p.m." But anyone whose served overseas would really appreciate a hearty breakfast ? like these classic pancakes made with wholesome whole wheat and plump, juicy blueberries. Add bacon or sausage and eggs for a seriously hearty breakfast.
Make whole wheat blueberry pancakes
Image: Julie Van Rosendaal
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#whole-wheat-blueberry-pancakes
Bacon and Egg Breakfast Pizza
Well-prepared bacon and eggs can be surprisingly hard to come by overseas. Now that your veteran is home, serve up everyone's favorite breakfast foods on a pizza for a fun and delicious breakfast.
Make bacon and egg breakfast pizza
Image: Brooke McLay
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#bacon-and-egg-breakfast-pizza
Jalapeno Cheddar Stuffed Burgers
Brad, an army specialist, told Salty Seattle that he most misses comfort food and even fast food, "A chili dog always sounds great, or even a fast food burger. On my recent vacation in California, of course I had to hit up In N Out Burger." I'm sure no fast food burger could compared to these jalape?o cheddar stuffed burgers, though.
Make jalapeno cheddar stuff burgers
Photo credit: Angie McGowan
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#jalapeno-cheddar-stuffed-burgers
Chicken Club Quesadilla
"My last deployment I came home in search of the ideal club sandwich as well as the ideal reuben," said army specialist Brad to Salty Seattle. Any veteran craving a club sandwich is sure to love this chicken club quesadilla, a fun twist on the original.
Make chicken club quesadillas
Photo credit: Angie McGowan
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#chicken-club-quesadilla
Spicy Chicken Sandwiches
Some larger military bases in Afghanistan and Iraq are lucky enough to offer food from American fast food chains. While controversial, an unnamed soldier told Esquire magazine,"I don't think that fast food detracts from military effectiveness. It boosts morale, which is actually good for military effectiveness." However, your veteran might not have had this luxury. And while chances are the veteran in your life has had his fill of sandwiches, I'm going to guess they were nothing like this tender, spicy, chicken sandwich ? a homemade way to enjoy the fast food they missed overseas.
Make spicy chicken sandwiches
Image: Brooke McLay
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#spicy-chicken-sandwiches
Flat Iron Steak Fajitas
Simple steak and peppers make for a fantastic, satisfying lunch for veterans who missed Mexican food while deployed. "So far this deployment, three soft barbacoa tacos from Chipotle has been my most frequent desire," Brad, an army specialist, said in an interview with Salty Seattle.
Make steak fajitas
Image: Angie McGowan
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#flat-iron-steak-fajitas
Homemade Pizza
Sergeant Colby Hauser of the First Calvary at Fort Hood, Texas told Detroit News Channel 5, "Pizza is one of those special treats so much a part of American life, the troops miss it more than we can express." Welcome home your veteran with a homemade pizza party!
Make homemade pizza
Photo credit: Brooklyn supper
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#homemade-pizza
Steak with Gorgonzola Butter
When asked what he most looked forward to about returning home Staff Sgt. Landon Hall told Mo Guard, "I will, of course, want to see my family all together, and then we'll go get a steak dinner." The perfect Veteran's Day steak dinner doesn't need to be complicated, just really, really good. Try a perfectly-cooked steak with flavorful gorgonzola butter and a simple side of greens.
Make steak with gorgonzola butter
Image: Julie Van Rosendaal
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#steak-with-gorgonzola-butter
Sliders with Caramelized Onions and Horseradish Mayo
How about a dressed-up burger for dinner? These flavorful sliders feature sweet and smoky caramelized onions and a delightfully bracing horseradish mayo. ?
Make sliders with caramelized onions
Image: Brooklyn Supper
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#sliders-with-caramelized-onions-and-horseradish-mayo
Triple Cream Mac and Cheese
Military mom Jeudi Williams wrote on Amazon, "While my son was deployed overseas, I sent regular shipments [of microwavable macaroni and cheese] to him. He loves mac and cheese and enjoyed these a lot, as did the others deployed with him." Any veteran who could enjoy the microwave version will go crazy over this decadent, oh-so-creamy mac and cheese from scratch.
Make creamy mac and cheese
Image: Brooke McLay
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#triple-cream-mac-and-cheese
Apple Slab Pie
I like my desserts classic, and it doesn't get more classic than homemade apple pie. And most veterans would agree! Susann Panek told the Syracuse New Times that she remembers her Marine grandson saying, "kind of under his breath, ?Wow, it?d be great to get one of those in a care package,?? when she served him apple pie. Best of all, this pie recipe is ready to party, since it feeds up to 20 people!
Make apple slab pie
Image: Brooklyn Supper
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#apple-slab-pie
Salted Caramel Blondies
The only thing better than a gooey blondie just out of the oven is a caramel-drizzled gooey blondie just out of the oven.
Make salted caramel blondies
Image: Brooklyn Supper
/family-kitchen/2012/11/09/10-comfort-food-recipes-for-veterans-day/#salted-caramel-blondies

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