Whether it’s a cold Colorado day or you’re spending Valentines Day alone, comfort foods are the best thing to eat (even though they aren’t always the healthiest). Here are 8 of the best and easiest comfort foods from around the internet.

• Chocolate Mug Cake
  • A chocolate cake is a delicious staple, but it often makes a ton of dishes that no one wants to wash; so the easy solution is to make it in a mug! This recipe only takes 15 minutes, consists of basic ingredients found in most kitchens, and is vegan as long you replace the milk with any nondairy version you prefer. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chocolate-cake-in-a-mug.html

• Grilled Cheese
  • Grilled cheese can often be paired with tomato soup; grilled cheese is a basic that everyone knows how to make, but there are ways to upgrade your average sandwich.
    • Add avocado, this fatty fruit has been on the scene of healthy eating for years, so why not add it to your grilled cheese? The avocado adds another layer of texture and flavor without making the simple sandwich overcomplicated.
    • Daiya, Go Veggie, and Vegan Gourmet all make vegan cheese to recreate the classic.
• Muffins
  • With seven basic ingredients, you can make delicious muffins that you can easily make your own; if you want blueberry, just add blueberries, or you can add chocolate chips for chocolate chip muffins.
  • http://allrecipes.com/recipe/6874/best-ever-muffins/
  • These vegan blueberry muffins make twelve servings and only take 35 minutes to prepare.
  • http://www.food.com/recipe/very-simple-blueberry-muffins-278278

• Mac and Cheese
  • Although boxed mac and cheese is the simplest to create, this homemade version is single serving and baked, creating a tasty crunch.
  • http://allrecipes.com/recipe/70012/baked-mac-and-cheese-for-one/?internalSource=next%20recipe&referringId=238691&referringContentType=recipe&clickId=next%20recipe%20module&EventName=70012&AnalyticsEvent=right%20rail%20nav
  • These easy vegan mac and cheeses use nutritional yeast to mimic that cheesy flavor and chili powder to add some kick: http://www.simple-veganista.com/2013/10/easy-spicy-mac-n-cheese-nut-free-soy.html

• Ice Cream
  • Ice cream seems like the sort of things that cannot be simplified; if you want quality ice cream, you have to go to the store right? Well if you have a bag and a few key ingredients, you can make your own ice cream at home! http://www.tablespoon.com/posts/how-to-make-ice-cream-in-a-bag/e8144851-d4f2-4852-820e-c1192e68ab8d

• French Fries
  • This tasty fry recipe is easy to execute, but watch out for the hot oil: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/50223/homemade-crispy-seasoned-french-fries/
  • If you’re hesitant about hot, popping grease in your kitchen, this baked recipe keeps your fries crisp: http://www.shelikesfood.com/1/post/2015/06/crispy-oven-baked-french-fries.html

• Tuna Melts
  • This tuna melt takes only ten minutes to make: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/54518/simple-tuna-melt/
  • Instead of tuna, chickpeas are used in this simple tuna melt and it takes about the same amount of time to prepare as the traditional tuna melt: http://namelymarly.com/vegan-chickpea-tuna-melt/
• Brownies
  • These brownies only have five ingredients and the process is almost completely fool-proof with pictures that guide you on the way to a delicious brownie town:http://blog.blueapron.com/five-ingredient-super-easy-brownies/
  • This vegan recipe makes gooey brownies without any eggs or dairy: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/68436/vegan-brownies/

Enjoy Kadets!