Sometimes you just need to curl up on the sofa in front of the TV with your favorite comfort food
Everyone has their comfort food. You know, that special dish your grandma made you when you were feeling poorly or one you ate growing up. We all have our own nostalgic comfort foods that are close to our hearts but have you ever wondered what the most popular ones are?
When it comes down to it comfort food is really just home cooking, at it’s best. You know, the kind of gooey, hot dishes that make you smile when you eat them. As Salma Abdelnoir a famous New York based food writer and critic says:
There’s a reason why comfort food is comforting…we know what it’s going to taste like, and we know how we’re going to feel when we eat it. That kind of predictability is priceless.
So what makes a comfort food……Comforting?
Of course it is as much down to personal taste as anything in life but in America traditional comfort food does follow some general principles. Usually these foods are far from gourmet cuisine often consisting of high calories and velvety textures. Most times the food is easy to digest, rich in nutrients and easy to eat. Sometimes if you get the urge to eat potatoes for example it can be because your body is trying to tell you you lack carbohydrates in your system.
We hope this handy list will give you as many nostalgic and sentimental retro-feelings as it gave us. Don’t be surprised if once you’ve read it you feel the sudden urge to watch sesame street and eat some mac-n-cheese. Everyone needs their comfort food….after all.
1: Mashed Potato
There is something just so homely and satisfying about mashed potatoes, it’s hard to put your finger on it. Is it the creamy warmth of the potatoes as they slip down your throat? Or perhaps it’s the full and satisfied feeling you get from a hot steaming bowl of your favorite mash? Americans love mashed potatoes each, I am sure, for their own reasons. I remember when I was sick as a kid usually with strep my mum would rustle up a piping hot bowl of creamy mash with soft boiled eggs cracked over the top of them. Always used to make me feel better at any rate. If you want to make some great homemade mashed potatoes check out this recipe by Martha Stewart.
2: Mac-N-Cheese
Mac-n-cheese, also known as mac and cheese is the quintessential comfort food of America. Kids and adults alike love its cheesy creaminess and is enjoyable whether made from scratch or out the box. As there is also something comforting about convenience food (mainly the fact that you don’t have to stand there for hours cooking it) these days store-bought or frozen mac and cheese is a popular option for comfort food lovers on the go. If you want the real thing though check out this great recipe courtesy of Alton Brown from foodnetwork.com.
3: Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
In a recent study in America peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (as well as grilled cheese) ranked highest for the most loved comfort food. The study showed that comfort food preference very much depends on age, ethnic background and location. Seems that both adults and children grab their favorite variety of jelly and peanut butter and favor this sandwich the most. The mixture of the sweet jelly with the slight saltiness of the peanut butter is comforting and pleasing to the palate making it America’s favorite sandwich.
4: Grilled Cheese
Second only to peanut butter and jelly grilled cheese sandwiches are loved and cherished by americans whether north, south, east or west. Traditionally grilled cheese is 2 pieces of white bread filled with one or more cheeses and then cooked in a frying pan in either butter or oil. As America becomes increasingly health conscious more and more people use whole grain breads and low-fat cheeses. Check out this unique article by Maureen Callahan who writes in menshealth.com
5: Pizza
Although pizza is traditionally known to be Italian cuisine the american version is much loved and most comforting. For some people there’s simply nothing quite like a hot and cheesy slice of pizza topped with vegetables or tuna fish. For others they need the whole pie as there is something very moorish about pizza. When it’s cooked to perfection and fresh out the oven once you start, it’s hard to stop as the melted cheese takes you back to pizza slices you ate as a kid in your favorite pizzeria. Conventional pizza isn’t considered to be that healthy with its white flour and high fat cheese content. You can make delicious healthy pizza though with wholegrain dough and low fat cheeses. Like this great healthy pizza recipe we found on the healthy eating website sparkrecipes.com.
