Comfort foods—we all have them. Often, they are warm ooey gooey dishes that have thick sauces. Or maybe they are rich, sugary treats that we had when we were young.
While comfort foods may vary from person to person, the main thing they all have in common is that they are snacks that were enjoyed during childhood that bring back special memories.
It might be a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup. It might be a big, fat hot dog with all the toppings and relish dripping down your arm. Or maybe it’s simply one of those cheap burritos you get at the convenience stores.
What makes a comfort food is not the exotic nature of the delicacy—it is the nostalgia.
For instance, one of my favorite things to eat is a nice warm piece of toast with butter and some boysenberry jam. It is simple and costs probably all of 25 cents but when I eat it, I feel happy. I feel safe. I feel like nothing is wrong in the world.
I am sure that you would agree that there is nothing special about a piece of toast with jam on it—nothing except the memory attached to it. You see, my grandmother had boysenberry bushes in her yard and made boysenberry jam every year. I always looked forward to summer because I would get to visit my grandmother and get some of her yummy boysenberry jam. One year I even got to help her make it.
Another simple meal she made me that I still love to this day was mush. Now, if you don’t know what mush is—it is oatmeal or cream of wheat. Mush is one of my favorite things to have for breakfast and I have it as often as I can. We would put butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and milk in our mush.
I also loved her bacon and egg sandwiches. I remember I was always amazed when we found an egg with a double yolk. It was like an extra treasure in our lunch. She would always let me grind the pepper onto the eggs as they were cooking.
Macaroni & cheese is toward the top of the list of comfort foods for many people. The creamy, cheesy goodness is soothing and comforting to many people. There is a restaurant in Buffalo, New York that serves specialty mac & cheeses. They have 16 different types of macaroni and cheese.
The place is always packed and there is frequently a waiting list for tables. People pick up the unique dishes for take-out as well. The joint has some pretty interesting burger selections too. One of them has peanut butter and jelly. I thought this sounded totally disgusting – but it’s on the menu so someone must be eating it.
Spaghetti is another popular comfort food. I have to say, I do like some good spaghetti. Some getters with a thick, creamy sauce and some cheese can really hit the spot. Add some fresh, soft bread hot out of the oven and you definitely have a filling, comforting meal.
It’s even better the second day. Speaking of foods that are good the second day—pizza can be a satisfying comfort food. There are so many toppings that can be added to the perfect crust to create a delicious meal that stirs wistful memories.
And for dessert—what better comfort food than some nice warm chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk. Or maybe you are one of those who enjoys a piece of cake with that layer of raspberry in the middle. Whatever your comfort food, it no doubt gives you that special feeling—and makes you feel special while you’re eating it.
I so love to cook & wanted to share one of my “comfort food” dishes- hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes. YUM!!! As you can probably tell, this meal is fairly simple to make. All you need is mashed potatoes…
and hamburger gravy.
Just watch my video to see how I made it.
It really is super yummy.
In my video, I credit my grandmother, dad & brother for my cooking skills. They really did have a lot to do with my abilities & love of cooking.
I tried to share a picture of my beautiful grandmother during the video, but it didn’t work out very well, so I wanted to include it in my blog so everyone can see her. I miss her so much.
