Is anyone else unreasonably irritated by the term, "comfort food"? I don't know why I hate it so much, but I do. Maybe because it's a cliche that has been BEATEN TO DEATH by newspaper food writers in the last few years. I remember particularly after 9/11, every food section in every newspaper in the country was running articles about how comforting food can be when the national mood is depressed.
Not that I don't agree with the sentiment. No one knows better than I do the power of food to comfort. And the foods that do it are usually something from our childhood. Nostalgia is reassuring, too. A return to a happier, less responsible and stressful time . . . blahblahblah bring on the psychoanalysis.
Do you see where I'm going with this? Yes! It's Audience Participation Day!
Please, try to control your excitement.
Potatoes in pretty much any form comfort me: mashed, baked, fried, or covered in cheese sauce. The humble potato is my rod and my staff, my shoulder to cry on, my light in the dark, my . . . well, I'm sure you get it.
So what about you, duckies? What food do you reach for when it all just gets to be too much?
You're right. The term "comfort food" is overused.
ReplyDeleteFood that gives me the warm fuzzies:
Cheese
Potatoes
Pasta
mac and cheese
Chicken, cheese, mushroom, garlic rice
Soup
Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I feel better just typing it.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely mac & cheese, grilled cheese & tomato soup....& spaghetti for me. We eat spaghetti at least once a week to calm our nerves. lol!
ReplyDeleteI fall squarely into the tomato soup and mac and cheese camp too. Probably one reason they are so comforting is that they only take a few minutes to make. Instant gratification!
ReplyDeletechicken /dumplin's
ReplyDeletePoooooork.
ReplyDeleteI like chicken & dumplings, or braised cabbage with sausage. But what I really want when I'm down is a hot cup of coffee with milk - MMMMM.
ReplyDeleteokay, why is it you haaaaate hilling the potatoes? (is that the right paraphrasing?) but you looove potatoes... there has to be something there right? for me it's potatoes or pasta... or soup.
ReplyDeleteand you made your own ricotta?! you know all these people/foodies (like me and i hate the term foodies like you hate comfort food) we talk a good game but damn, you live it and most people couldn't even do it for one day.
Baked mac and cheese.
ReplyDeleteDammit, now I want some.
country ham on bisciuts
ReplyDeleteBacon.
ReplyDeleteBacon and beer.
Bacon, cheese and beer.
Pretty much, salt - alcohol - fat. The great trifecta.
I'm a soup junkie. I keep the freezer full of homemade soups and break them out when it's cold and rainy or i'm feeling down. I also love Dal - it's such a warm flavor with the garlic and the ginger and the spice...it goes right up there with mashed potatoes for me.
ReplyDeleteScrambled eggs and cinnamon toast!
ReplyDeleteMy word verification was "bones"!
Has to be a Baked Dinner! Leg of lamb(with rosemary and garlic) baked potatoes and pumpkin with lashings of gravy.mmmm followed by cheesecake :0)
ReplyDeleteI'm solid in that mac n' cheese camp. And it's gotta be the boxed stuff! And grilled cheese... best with tomato soup, but I'll take it without too. Crispy, gooey, yummy meltiness.... funnily enough,though, no faux cheese here, I like cheddar for these sam'iches!
ReplyDeletecomfort food....does chocolate count?
ReplyDeleteAnything my Mom makes for me when I'm at home or when they come to my place and she cooks. She makes it with love and I can taste it.
ReplyDeleteHomemade mac & cheese. Chicken soup with noodles or dumplings or rice.
ReplyDeleteFried egg sandwich with a slice of melted cheddar cheese on top. Just had one. It always tastes good to me, especially with fresh eggs from hens that have been out on the ground chasing bugs and digging for worms. Potatoes are really good though. Potato and onion soup is always one of my favorites. It was always called Poor Man's Soup when I was a kid. Fresh pepper grated on top with a pat of butter and fresh warm homemade bread. Great rainy/cold weather soup.
ReplyDeleteMmm, Mac and cheese and it has to be Kraft Dinner. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Sphagetti and meat sauce. Cheese tortelline(Sp?) and Alfredo. White clam sauce over angel pasta with cheese. Homemade chicken stew and dumplings. Beef roast with roasted potatoes, aah. If we get to put in for beverages I vote for green tea, cocoa with whipping cream and mandarin orange tea.
ReplyDeleteDo cigarettes count as food? They definitely work better than food when I need comforting.
ReplyDeleteNo? Then definitely anything high in fat - creamed greens, mac n' cheese, pot roast and gravy with mashed potatoes.
Now I'm hungry.
"Comfort food", as a term, makes me want to murder people. I very much dislike cliche and this is cliche in food form. HATRED.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I read down some of these gals lists and tomato soup and grilled cheese is one of those things I do love and fall back on.
A warm tomato from my garden is about as comforting as it gets, though. If I happen to make my mellowed tomato pasta with them, all the better. I'm pretty sure it can heal my soul.