On Comfort Food.
Dec. 27th, 2008 07:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
randomnessChristmas food--and boy, there was some yummy food on Christmas, thanks to various members of ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bedfull_o_books's family--got me to thinking about comfort food.
As anyone who has been around me much at all can confirm, I get wacky food cravings. Many times these cravings are for dishes I consider comfort food.
This led me to consider what those dishes are, and why they have that place for me.
I think many of my comfort foods are ones I've eaten for many years, like 干炒牛河 (gān chăo niú hé: a. k. a. beef chow fun), or macaroni and cheese. Meat loaf is another. So are 水饺 (shuǐjiǎo: boiled dumplings), with some fairly pedestrian filling like 猪肉白菜 (zhū ròu bái cài: pork with Chinese cabbage). Some dessert foods are also, like ice cream sandwiches, or a 蛋挞 (dàn tà: egg tart). Or 杏仁豆腐 (xìng rén dòu fu: almond jelly/almond tofu/almond junket) but the kind made with agar, not tofu or gelatin (despite the names).
Occasionally, though, the craving is for something I never ate as a child, but nonetheless still fills the comfort food niche, like Cincinnati chili or Saag (साग/ساگ). (bedfull_o_books also considers Saag a comfort food. Neither of us grew up with it.)
I suppose it's all about keeping my not-so-inner child fed. That kid likes fat, sweet, and salt, it seems, and searches for the uncomplicated, unchallenging tastes I grew up with.
What foods say "comfort food" to you? What about them makes them comfort food?
bedfull_o_books's family--got me to thinking about comfort food.As anyone who has been around me much at all can confirm, I get wacky food cravings. Many times these cravings are for dishes I consider comfort food.
This led me to consider what those dishes are, and why they have that place for me.
I think many of my comfort foods are ones I've eaten for many years, like 干炒牛河 (gān chăo niú hé: a. k. a. beef chow fun), or macaroni and cheese. Meat loaf is another. So are 水饺 (shuǐjiǎo: boiled dumplings), with some fairly pedestrian filling like 猪肉白菜 (zhū ròu bái cài: pork with Chinese cabbage). Some dessert foods are also, like ice cream sandwiches, or a 蛋挞 (dàn tà: egg tart). Or 杏仁豆腐 (xìng rén dòu fu: almond jelly/almond tofu/almond junket) but the kind made with agar, not tofu or gelatin (despite the names).
Occasionally, though, the craving is for something I never ate as a child, but nonetheless still fills the comfort food niche, like Cincinnati chili or Saag (साग/ساگ). (
bedfull_o_books also considers Saag a comfort food. Neither of us grew up with it.)I suppose it's all about keeping my not-so-inner child fed. That kid likes fat, sweet, and salt, it seems, and searches for the uncomplicated, unchallenging tastes I grew up with.
What foods say "comfort food" to you? What about them makes them comfort food?
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generally, childhood
Date: 2008-12-28 05:49 pm (UTC)When we were reintroducing solid food, my mother made orange roughy in the oven. I had forgotten about that. Turns out, I love it. Which is good because I could handle it.
In normal times, my comfort food is somewhat seasonal. Most comfort foods for me are winter foods.
Favorites from childhood, largely. Particularly my grandmother's chicken dumplings. Also rolls. Mac and cheese (not from scratch). A huge bowl of those frozen peas with the fake butter sauce. Canned green beans. Bison.
Some non-childhood comforts: Nebiyaki Udon, excellent green tea, really excellent apples, hot mulled cider. Dark chocolate, especially with bacon. Stews of all types, but particularly anything creamy or with potatoes.
Also, while sick, comfort food = food that makes you feel better.
Chicken soup
tea with honey
fresh ginger root tea
oatmeal