Your Favorite Comfort Foods--and Why
 

Recently, a bunch of my colleagues and I were talking about our favorite comfort foods and why they appeal to us. What are yours and why?

Mine:

cafe au lait (Louisiana roots and served by my grandmother)

Mexican and Chinese food (Mexican heritage, Chinese best friend in elementary school)

butterscotch pudding (our elementary served it a lot)

tuna noodle casserole - Mom made it - yum. And no one else in my family likes it, so when I need it I have to make it just for me. Frito pie falls in this category.

warm tapioca pudding - the stuff you make and have to stir forever - not that nasty stuff you buy ready-made. I'm not sure why it is my "comfort" food, other than it is warm, unusual, and tasty.

Tex-Mex- in Texas, nowhere else will work. It's home.

egg nog - always makes me think of Christmases past.

Oh - and Carnation, Cafe du Monde delivers - I have my cafe au lait every morning!

Macaroni and cheese- because they taste good.

The chips and queso from Tijuana Flats or Q'Doba. Although this is more in the "decongestant" category for when I have an allergy/cold/flu.

Four cheese tortellini with alfredo sauce ;)...warm, cheesy and gooy...

anything chocolate....

diet Mountain Dew.......

Yup...all those, my comforter snuggled up in bed and I am set for a good respite

mac and cheese- it's my favorite food! it reminds me of when i was little and having a babysitter
mashed potatoes- creamy and oh so good
stuffing- i'm not sure why, but its so good
cereal- rice chex and vanilla soymilk
tortellini with butter and Parmesan cheese
bacon, egg and cheese on a hard roll, salt, pepper, ketchup- reminds me of when i worked in a deli and its soooo good
creamed spinach
Brisket... I remember my grandma popping one in the oven for over 24hours, and waking up to that amazing smell
this casserole my mom makes, with ground beef, cream of mushroom soup, and tater tots on top in the oven... it reminds me of when it was just me and her...

:D

Mom's Dressing
Chocolate with Caramels
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Peanut Butter MMs
Snickers
Chocolate Ice Cream
Fried Chicken

Because I'm a Carb Freak

meatloaf (with extra bell peppers) and buttery mashed potatoes. It's just my basic homey fare.

Mom's mac and cheese. This ain't Kraft dinner, folks: Mom makes her mac 'n' cheese with ziti, lots and lots and LOTS of cheese, cayenne pepper, bread crumbs, tomatoes, milk, and Colman's mustard. We had this dish pretty often in winter (especially on Fridays in Lent).

Sushi - just because it's good :)

Cheese fondue - same reason

my grandma makes me spaghetti too whenever I visit. I don't like meatballs though.


the chicken wings from Wal-Mart- yummy

grilled cheese sandwich- the perfect pick-me-up on a rainy day

I tried the chips and queso from Panchero's today. My excuse is that my right ear was congested due to otitis externa. Very good- queso is very rich. But not as spicy as Q'Doba's queso- so it may not be as effective a decongestant.

Someone mentioned that they love the smell of ham & cabbage cooking - it's one of my major comfort foods, and I've never heard of anyone else liking it!

-Homemade bread & corn muffins
-most soups that don't include fish (soaking lentils even as I type!)
-sugarcured ham on a biscuit
-sweet tea
-hot cocoa - not hot chocolate, cocoa!
-and of course, cookies!