For me, there’s nothing better than sitting back with a bowl of “ochazuke,” a steaming bowl of white sticky rice, swimming in a pool of hot green tea and sprinkled with seaweed slivers, chopped pickled radish, and sesame seeds. It reminds me of quick meals my mom would throw together when I felt like a snack late at night, or I wasn’t feeling particularly well.
What’s YOUR comfort food?
Wow, Baglady, does THAT bring back memories. That was my mom’s version of chicken noodle soup when I was growing up. Will cure whatever ails you. Haven’t had it in years…
Now, I will take anything that has a Haagen Dazs label on it. And Callebaut chocolate. And toasted peanut butter, honey and banana sandwiches.
It’s like candy to me to eat them. I always have a couple of pounds in the fridge.
Paper. No calories. (I think)
Pisses my mom off to no end, but she’s the one who taught me to eat when I’m upset, so she’ll just have to let it go.
–John
When I’m upset about something then it’s chocolate chip cookies, the fresher the better.
When I’m sick then it’s good old Chicken & Stars soup. I have a lot of childhood memories of chasing those little stars around my bowl.
Make a box of instant pudding, blend a
cup of nuts into it, and top with Cool
Whip. It’s great!
Fresh french bread sticks with deli pate, or really ripe camembert with a glass of red wine. Cures all ills.
Otherwise, hot chicken noodle soup. Never fails to bring a smile to my face.
Mac and Cheese, but the frozen Stoffer’s stuff, not out of a box.
Chocolate.
Mashed Potatos.
Seasme Noodles. (mom’s specialty)
Stroganoff Rice-A-Roni. Sigh… and me a Natural Foods Store manager.
But why why why can’t I get Stroganoff Rice-A-Roni in the Eastern U.S.? Where is the comfort here?
Macaroni and cheese-gloppy cafeteria stuff. But if that’s not around I’m with Swim. Stoffers.
Bring to a boil one can of Swanson’s chicken broth.
Add as many egg noodles as you can pack in the broth.
Cook slowly, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed.
Dump into a bowl; stir in 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
Sit in a corner and eat, snarling at anyone who comes near.
I have two comfort foods. The first one is Oatmeal with brown sugar. It fufills the main requirements of a comfort food. First, it is a dish that brings back good memories of childhood, like Proust’s madeline. Second, it should be warm and make you feel good. Thirdly, it should be fairly bland. I suspec the blandness quotient is important because of the childhood memory component. Most children seem to have a natural affinity towards bland foods.
My other choice is Campbell’s chicken Noodle Soup. Both of these foods bring back memories of childhood rainy days playing indoors. That was the time that I was happiest.
Keith
This is gonna sound weird, but one of my comfort foods is a Swanson turkey dinner.
Why? Because when I was in college, I was usually so broke I could barely afford to eat. On the really bad days, when I couldn’t even scrape together the pennies for a package of Ramen or a Taco Bell burrito, I’d have to go eat at the local church, where they gave free dinners to the poor and homeless.
So for me, a Swanson turkey dinner was a real treat, something I could get once a month, maybe. (I’m not counting the times I’d mooch off of friends. I mean it’s a treat if I can feed myself.)
No, it isn’t the greatest meal in the supermarket; in a lot of ways it barely qualifies as food. (It is, however, better than Banquet). But I still have powerful associations with that poverty-stricken time, and even though I know it’s totally irrational, eating a Swanson turkey dinner still makes me feel really good.
This embarrassing revelation has been brought to you by the Campbell’s Soup company…
Grilled Cheese sandwich.
Ohhhh excellent observation, Odieman!!! Looking over this list it appears most everybody’s comfort foods are all bland!!! Most interesting.
Odieman gets a lightbulb out of Baglady’s bag, for having made a bright observation today. 
Popcorn.
Made myself, in a skillet. A ridiculously large bowl of it, with no butter, only salt, please.
I am a gourmet popcorn chef. Microwave popcorn is a blasphemy.
I believe, generally, most people’s comfort foods will be bland and usually soft/gooey/soupy in texture; they are easy to eat, soft on the tongue, and easy to chew and digest–which is why they tend to be comfort foods. I know there are a few who mentioned crunchy foods like popcorn and baby carrots–they are definitely in the minority. People generally eat comfort foods when they are not feeling well, physically or emotionally, and it is easier to eat something bland and soft–and it’s a natural choice.
That being said, my comfort foods are: mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and ice cream (preferrably a chocolate flavor).
Baked potatoes (mashed are a close second)
pudding! preferably some kind of chocolate.
My mom’s meatloaf is right up there but I have a hard time getting her to drive all the way out here to make it for me. And when I try to make it, it never tastes quite the same.
Hey look at that, I’ve got a whole dinner menu there.
When I’ve had a bad day at work or life generally sucks, I crave pancakes or French toast as my little pick-me-up. I don’t know why, perhaps some strange association between the complexities of life and the warmth of breakfast foods. I don’t question it; I just eat.
However, if I’m feeling ill, chocolate pudding (the good cooked kind with the lumps) usually makes me feel better.
In retrospect, maybe this is why I can’t lose those last 10 pounds.
Icee. Icees make me feel good. They simplify life’s problems, reducing them to just two issues: deciding what flavor to get, and brainfreeze.