Comfort Food Classics

There's nothing like classic comfort food on a damp autumn day. There's something comforting about a meal from our childhoods. It brings about Proustian memories of soothing aromas and tastes. It 's like a security blanket protecting us from bad days and bad bosses. Who cares about calories and the amount of fat it has. It's comfort food, enough said!

Another good thing about comfort food is that it's relatively easy to make. I've just recently rediscovered Swanson's Chicken A la King. It's just heat up and pour over toast or rolls. It's a simple mix of white gravy , chicken chunks and red peppers. Yet it;s a complex blend of memories and comfort, recalling cozy dinners or Saturday lunches from the Madman Era.Another easy to make comfort food is grilled cheese. It's a slice of cheddar over white bread.It can call on some fancy twists, like adding a tomato slice or bacon or both. Fry it with a slice of ham and you have that French classic., the croque monsieur.

Of course you can make the more complicated classics. Everyone loves baked mac. It is somewhat labor intensive but well worth it. It does take time so it's best made on a Saturday or a Sunday. The same thing goes for roasts. Yes, it's wonderful to have a turkey or roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, yet they can't be made on a busy weekday night- unless you ave a lot of help or head over to Boston Market.

There's nothing like classic comfort food. They're the perfect way to end the day or celebrate a big weekend. Their aromas, their tastes all as soothing as a security blanket!

Holiday Comfort Food

Our holidays, whether they be Christmas Kwanzaa or Hannukah are food based. We crave the comforting smells of roast turkey or ham, collards or brisket to get us through these hectic days and frigid nights. The remind us of our pasts and where our families came from. They, more than any present, have given us good memories.

Christmas Eve and Christmas dinners are redolent with robust dishes full of seafood, ham or turkey. Southern Italians have good memories of their Christmas Eves. this is when thirteen different kinds of fish are cooked to represent Jesus and His Apostles. Since it's a holy day , no meats are allowed, hence the plethora of seafood. Usually cod and lobster are the prevailing fish but there's also shrimp, eel and tuna as well. German love Christmas Day when there is a fresh ham to be sliced and served with potato salad. The English love their roast goose and turkey along with their chestnut stuffings and plum pudding.

Kwanzaa and Hannukah also have great dishes. Since Kwanzaa is the celebration of the harvest most dishes have fresh vegetables in them (not an easy feat in some areas of America). There is jollof rice, a dish made with rice tomatoes and peppers along with a turkey gumbo. Spicy peanut soup is made to ward off the chill and sooth the soul. There are also okra and greens. Holiday baking includes benne cookies made with sesame seeds that give the eater good luck.

Hanukkah is a special holiday , filled not only with latkes but also with brisket. This cut of meat from a cow;s lower chest is usually served with onions or a sweeter version is made with plums . It;s the perfect meal on a cold winter;s night. Israelis finish off a good Hanukkah meal with sufganiyot, or fried jelly doughnuts. This, too, celebrates the oil's lasting eight days in the temple. They're made with a yeast dough and a raspberry jam filling. (although you can substitute any kind of flavor in them).

The holidays , no matter which one, always give us comfort food. These are what are favorite holiday remembrances are made from. It's what ties us to our ancestors and their traditions.