Winter warmers: 23 comfort food recipes you need right now

If you want you can wrap potatoes in foil and cook in the oven. Add a simple filling of baked beans, grated cheese or chili for a perfect fireside treat.

Click here for the baked potato recipe and more filling ideas

What better way of warming up is there than a dish of chilli? You can make it using beef or turkey mince and season it according to you and your family's taste. You can even serve up in pitta bread pockets.

Click here for the chilli recipe

Cobbler is a great alternative to stew and dumplings if you are looking for something a little different

Find our lamb cobbler recipe here or why not try the vegetarian option with quorn here.

Slow braised lamb with pears and potatoes. The pears give a lovely sweetness to the dish and add an unusual twist. A brilliant one-pot meal for the slow cooker.

Find the slow braised lamb recipe.

Follow our recipe for the beef stew, or use half stock and half red wine to make beef bourguignon - put in button mushrooms half an hour before it finishes cooking, and serve it with rice. Perfect for re-energising after a day of fun.

See the recipe for beef (or sausage) casserole

A tasty soup, with hidden veg! Sneakily nutritious - try serving with some crunchy croutons whipped up from a crust or two of bread, gently warmed through in a pan with some herbs and olive oil.

See our tomato soup

A slow cooker recipe that harnesses the flavour of tomatoes, olives and capers - perfect seasonal fodder.

Read the recipe for Chicken Cacciatore on Netmums.

A sweet, wholesome soup that will hopefully gain the approval of your whole family.

Try this simple recipe for carrot and orange soup

Serve with crusty bread and jazz up with ham, sweetcorn or chicken.

Find the macaroni cheese recipe.

A more grown up version of our cheese and potato bake - it takes an hour in the oven, so you might want to cook it alongside something else to make it more economical, but it's a tasty and budget friendly treat whatever the season.

See if you enjoy potato gratin as much as us and try serving with chops, warm salad, vegetables or even steak.

This is tasty and very simple. It can be made with leftover mash if you make a big batch, or frozen to make future mealtimes a breeze.

The cheese and cream provides energy and calcium for the kids.

Treat the kids to cheese and potato bake.

A delicious and filling soup to warm you up on a cold night!

Fill some hungry tummies with our minestone soup

This has become regular mealtime staple for some of our Netmums families.

Try some economical lentil spaghetti bolognese (pictured) or the traditional mince version

A generous dish to provide second helpings or keep until the next day - baking the dish makes it extra tasty.

Try vegetable pasta bake according to the recipe or with some variations.

A quick and easy stir fry meal, using noodles and either pancetta or you can use bacon or even cooked ham. Whip it up in minutes in the wok.

Here's the recipe for stir fry noodles with mushroom and pancetta

A brilliantly speedy recipe and the beauty of this dish is that you can vary the fillings so that it is different each time. Once you have made your frittata mix you can add ham, peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, tomatoes or whatever you and your family like. Also brilliant cold for packed lunches.

Find the recipe for frittata and for some variety why not try courgette frittata or goat's cheese and roasted pumpkin frittata.

What is a more perfect drink to serve up after a walk home from school on a cold day than a steaming mug of hot chocolate with a swirl of cream and marshmallows, topped with sprinkles of chocolate or dusted with cocoa powder?

Find the hot chocolate recipe

Meat or veggie sausages, this is a favourite with the kids (and grown ups can't resist it too).

Use this recipe to cook up some toad in the hole.

The ultimate pudding treat - everyone loves crumble and it is a fab way to get some fruit in your diet when there isn't much available. Use frozen or even tinned fruit if you can't get fresh. Try these crumble variations below and serve with custard or cream:

- Apple crumble
- Apple and blackberry crumble
- Pear and almond crumble
- Rhubarb and orange crumble

A simple and delicious way of getting your 5 a day. Serve with custard or cream

Baked apples recipe

We all remember bread and butter pudding from childhood - these versions are a little bit more grown up.

- Chocolate and coffee bread pudding
- Bread pudding

Tasty and easy to make - try our delicious fish pie recipe

Another delicious pudding - this really simple recipe is just a basic sponge with pineapple and syrup. Serve with cream or custard.

Find out how to make pineapple upsidedown cake.

We do hope you have found these ideas interesting. Find more recipes below and don't forget to share your food photos.

- Slow cooking ideas
- Pudding ideas
- Budget meals
- Winter favourites