Comfort Food

As with many people, when things are feeling a little uncomfortable or my expectations and hopes are being challenged, comfort food takes a front seat for me. Right in front of "getting-as-much-sleep-as-I-can-possibly-get-
with-two-young-children".

I was thinking today about what makes "Comfort Food" Comfortable? Seriously? Is there a universal list of food that, without trying, makes us feel comfortable or is it different for each individual? Since the 2009 year has not really been anything to celebrate thus far, I seem to be yearning for all that makes my tummy feel like it is sitting in front of a fire, in a cozy chair with a cat, a cup of tea and a good book.

I was thinking about what comfort food is to me and here are a few things right off the top of my head:

1) Beef stew
When I was growing up, Sunday nights seemed to be beef stew night. My Mum would start to make the stew in the afternoon and by 3:30 - 4:00 the house would be full of the most delicious smell of simmering beef, potatoes and veggies. I knew that we would have heaps of mashed potatoes to put our stew over and that following dinner it would be time for a bath, pajamas and Disney on the big, old TV set.

2) Cinnamon Buns
When I was growing up, my brother and I would be beside ourselves when we would find out that there was a big bowl with a damp cloth draped over it, sitting near the furnace, since we knew this meant that cinnamon buns with tons of sticky brown sugar and raisins would be in store for us the next morning.

3) Spare ribs and Caesar salad
When I was growing up, it was a special night when my mum would spend the afternoon preparing the most delicious, falling off the bone, spare ribs and her homemade Caesar salad. Not a word would be spoken at the table on spare rib nights. Which, if you knew our family, was not something that happened very often (as some of us kind of like to talk).

I am sure that by now you are seeing the pattern that is developing here. For me, anyway, comfort food, along with comfort sounds, comfort smells, comfort touches, seem to be intrinsically connected to my childhood; to my early years.

I am making it my goal, this year and for every year, to make sure my children have a very full list of comfort to draw on when they too are adults and finding that life needs a little "pick-me-up"