Comfort Food

Roger commented on a list of “comfort foods”, indicating his thoughts on each particular item. I, of course, shall do the same. Because I’m a follower, not a leader.

Apple Pie: Yup, that’s a comfort food. Especially served warm with a scoop of French vanilla or vanilla bean ice cream. Oh yes. (But I just can’t do the “apple pie with a slice of cheddar cheese” thing. That makes no sense.)

Baked Beans: I’m not sure I call them a “comfort food”; they’re a nice and easy side dish. I do make a thing with sausage, baked beans and a few other condiments that I consider a comfort food, though.

Banana Pudding: Not really. I’m not that much into pudding, and I’m not wild about banana flavored stuff to begin with. Love bananas, but banana flavoring, not so much.

Beef Stew: I make a pot of beef stew a couple of times a year. Comfort food? I’m not sure I consider it “comfort” food, but I like it in the autumn.

Brisket Pot Roast: Not really. I like it and should make it more, though.

Chicken & Dumplings: This is probably one of the canonical comfort foods. I’m not sure I’ve ever had it, though.

Chicken Pot Pie: Yup. Comfort food all the way. I make a nice one, if I do say so myself.

Chicken Soup: Not really. My comfort soup is clam chowder, actually. I find chicken soup boring.

Chili: Again, a regular autumn and cold weather item for me. I’m not sure I call it “comfort food”, though.

Chocolate Chip Cookies: Certainly. I love chocolate chip cookies. Homemade are the best.

Corn on the Cob: Sure. I adore it. Corn in all forms, really. And cornbread! A pot of chili without cornbread is unforgivable. (Well, beer bread is acceptable too.)

Fried Chicken: Absolutely. Especially if it comes in a bucket with biscuits, cole slaw, mac-and-cheese, and a wet-nap.

Gelatin: Meh. Not a big fan.

Green Bean Casserole: I don’t like green beans, so no. The Wife insists on this being on the table every Thanksgiving or Christmas, though, whichever one we make ourselves.

Hot Dogs: I love them, but I’m not sure I consider them “comfort food”.

Ice Cream: Sure. But then, I nearly live on ice cream.

Macaroni & Cheese: Certainly. Especially homemade. I make a baked version with sausage mixed in with the noodles, parmesan sprinkled on top. (One time I topped it with crushed potato chips, which I thought rocked, but The Daughter gave that thumbs down.) And yes, I like the box stuff. Sorry.

Mashed Potatoes: I don’t like these. So no.

Meatloaf: Hmmmmm. I like meatloaf, but I haven’t had it in so long that I don’t think I can consider it a comfort food.

Potato Salad: Since I didn’t like it until adulthood, I can’t really consider it to have a nostalgic thing behind it. But I do love a good, mustardy potato salad.

Pumpkin Pie: Not really. I have one slice a year and I’m good. Mainly pumpkin pie serves for me as a contrast to the mound of whipped cream I consume with it.

Shepherd’s Pie: Mashed potato topping rules this out for me.

Spaghetti: Hmmmm. Maybe. Never thought of it as comfort food; just a reliable, quick meal.

Tomato Soup: I loved it as a kid; I still like it but only have it maybe once or twice a year. But it cries out for a grilled cheese sandwich along with it. Now, if the sandwich is made from caraway rye bread and the cheese is sharp cheddar, then yes, we’re talking comfort food.

Tuna Casserole: Sure.

What other comfort foods do I have? Tater tot casserole. Waffles and pancakes and French toast. Frozen pizza. Burgers at a drive-in, ice cream at a roadside stand. Vanilla and strawberry milkshakes.

Maybe anything I like is actually comfort food….