When the weather outside turns frightful, cozy comfort food dishes are so delightful. From chicken pot pie, to butternut squash soup, this time of year calls for comfort food. Scroll on for a few cozy comfort food recipes from some of Albany County's cooking experts! 

Allie B's Signature Collard Greens

Recipe by Allie B's Cozy Kitchen
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Allie B's Cozy Kitchen is the go-to spot in Albany for soul food and southern-style cuisine. With "cozy" in the eatery's name, it is clearly one of the top local spots to satisfy your cozy comfort food cravings. Owner and chef Kizzy Williams Francisco shared the restaurant's Signature Collard Greens recipe. Give it a try and savor the Southern-inspired recipe all winter long. 

Photo Credit: YTK Photography

7 Hour Cherry Pepper Pork

Recipe from Mazzone Hospitality
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The experts at Mazzone Hospitality shared a recipe that is not only delicious, but will also have your home filled with warm and cozy scents. Simply pop the seasoned pork butt into the oven in the morning and let it bake for seven hours. The mouthwatering aromas will have you and the entire family ready to dig into the Cherry Pepper Pork for dinner! 

Photo Credit: Liz Cottrell​

Oysters Rockefeller

Recipe by Chef Elliott G. Vogel of Jack's Oyster House
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Albany's legendary Jack's Oyster House has been a downtown Albany landmark for over a century. The iconic restaurant recently welcomed Chef Elliott G. Vogel as the new head chef. His menu refocused the restaurant toward seafood, so it is only fitting that Chef Vogel shared with us a recipe for Oysters Rockefeller with Baked Blue Points, Mascarpone Creamed Spinach, Cherrywood Lardons and Allemande Parmesan Gratin. 

Butternut Squash Soup with Nine Pin Cider

Recipe from Nine Pin Cider
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Soups are the ultimate cozy comfort food dish for the fall and winter months. Looking for a twist on a classic? Add Nine Pin Cider to your Butternut Squash Soup! Use two cans of Nine Pin Signature cider, or really spice it up with one can of ginger and one can of signature cider. 

Sweet Potato Casserole

Recipe by Yono's 
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Downtown Albany's landmark restaurant Yono's has you covered with Sweet Potato Casserole just in time for Thanksgiving. This delectable side is a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving feast. Flustered by the thought of peeling 8 to 10 yams for the dish? Substitute with three large cans of yams or sweet potatoes. The recipe guarantees that "this dish will still be a huge hit!!" 

Photo Credit: Sarah Carciobolo​

Forester Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie

Recipe by Chef Justin Engineri, Executive Restaurant Chef of Nicole's
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A dish that screams comfort? Chicken pot pie! Executive Restaurant Chef Justin Engineri of Nicole's shared a recipe for Forester Biscuit Chicken Pot Pie. With homemade golden brown biscuits and the savory combination of chicken thighs, carrots, celery and mushrooms, this dish is the ultimate comfort food recipe.  

Shakshuka

Recipe from Taste of Troy Food Tours
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Shakshuka is a flavorful dish frequently found in restaurants in Israel. Among other ingredients, it is comprised of eggs, tomatoes, eggplant and potatoes. This comforting dish can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Amy Koren Roth, founder of Taste of Troy Food Tours, modified this recipe based off of a Smadar’s Shakshuka Recipe from the popular food blogger Natasha Kravchuk  (Natasha's Kitchen). 

Sauteed Green Beans with Onions and Mushrooms

Recipe by John Stage, owner of Dinosaur BBQ
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Tired of plain green beans? Jazz them up with mushrooms, garlic and onions! This recipe is from Dinosaur BBQ owner John Stage's cookbook Dinosaur Bar B Que, An American Roadhouse. It is a delicious side dish for a Thanksgiving feast or a Sunday dinner with the family.