Comfort Food
Interesting topic to me because I don’t recall thinking about it much over my umpteen years and of late, it has been a thought that has popped up frequently.
I think my definition is more in line with a menu of items that make me feel warm and cozy. Casseroles and stews, in general. Not a lot of fuss, all-in-one type of meal, minimal chewing (aka tongue mashing in the swallowing profession).
My grandmother was the cook of my memories and certain dishes do have me giving her a brief homage. She didn’t make anything fancy, but she was a consistent baker of cake-like sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies. And her pie crusts were famous at the church bake sales. She made great caramels and popcorn balls at this time of year which I now look back and wonder how she got the right candy thermometer stage and not burn her hands creating the popcorn balls. She cranked out all types of cookies and candies that other than those that I just mentioned, I could have cared less about. Divinity and date-roll cookies were not for my palate. Her one Tupperware bowl, now in some landfill somewhere, I am certain, still smells of strawberry jello with bananas.
My husband, Bill, is my very much appreciated chef going on 20 years. When I first met him, he didn’t have a clue about cooking and now I hardly want to go out to eat at a restaurant because he is that good at preparing all sorts of dishes. He does so many well, that I can’t say I have a favorite. And I admire how he is always looking at new dishes to create and not just stick to a few. Spices and herbs and fish sauce always are considered in each dish; so, bland is not the common flavoring.
Thanksgiving meals have that diet consistency and the weather changing to darn right chilly along with the shortening of the day’s sunlight all lend the feeling that comfort food is the answer to all of my problems and concerns. And that is okay. I’m not complaining. I just need to mention this to my chef (aka Bill, my husband) that the menus of the week are going to keep his casserole dish busy for a length of time.
May your comfort food be welcome as a way to acknowledge that all is right with the world.