While it probably doesnt 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 didnt need hot sauce to be palatable. In honor of Veterans 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 isnt that its complicated, its that its home-cooked.
- Whole Wheat Blueberry PancakesEmbedded 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 - Bacon and Egg Breakfast PizzaWell-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 - Jalapeno Cheddar Stuffed BurgersBrad, 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 jalapeo cheddar stuffed burgers, though.
Make jalapeno cheddar stuff burgers
Photo credit: Angie McGowan - 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 - Spicy Chicken SandwichesSome 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 - Flat Iron Steak FajitasSimple 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 - Homemade PizzaSergeant 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 - Steak with Gorgonzola ButterWhen 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 - Sliders with Caramelized Onions and Horseradish MayoHow 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 - Triple Cream Mac and CheeseMilitary 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 - Apple Slab PieI 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, itd 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 - Salted Caramel BlondiesThe 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
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