My Favorite Comfort Foods

We are halfway through week 3 of my September Blogging Challenge – can you believe that? If you missed my blogging challenge announcement post, I’ve been feeling a little bit uninspired by blogging and social media and I wanted to bring it back to where it all began…little old me behind my keyboard tapping away. And so – that’s what is happening! I know there are “blog every day” challenges, but honestly – I don’t blog every day as it is, so committing to 30 days was intimidating for me. Instead, I put together 20 prompts that really inspired me and whipped up a list for when you can expect them here. Today’s prompt is comfort foods and this right here – this prompt is my love language. If we can talk about food together, particularly food that involves a particular memory, then our relationship will soar. Now settle in and let’s get chatting about FOOD…

Comfort food probably means a lot of different  things to people – does it make you feel better when you’re sick? A favorite cookie recipe passed down through generations? Something your grandparents always made at the holidays? A recipe your mom makes that you still can’t perfect? All of the above for me! Basically, most of my comfort foods are based around a memory of some sort. There is one large exception and it’s candy. I have loved candy for as long as I can remember and I’m sure I loved it on the rare opportunity I ate it as a kid. Candy has no specific memory other than I just love it – sweet, sour (yes please!), gummy, chewy — give me all the candy, because I want to try it.

Tortellini and Peas – This is a meal my mom made for me as a kid and it’s tortellini in peas with pancetta in a heavy cream sauce. It’s every bit as indulgent as it sounds and my mom will tell you “I never really thought it was that special”, but it’s the number 1 food item I think of when I hear “comfort food”!

Mashed potatoes – Goodness me, I love a hot potato in any form, but there is something so satisfying about mashed potatoes. Growing up, my mom made them strictly at Thanksgiving. I don’t know why, but that’s just what it was and so I would patiently wait all year long for the fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes and pray there were multiple containers of leftovers. Anyone else? Also – no thank you on boxed potatoes! Not even an option at this house. Maybe that’s why I love them so much – they kind of take some effort to whip up, LOL!

Dipping french fries in Wendy’s Frostys – Someone, somewhere, please tell me that I’m not the only one who finds great satisfaction in this combo?!

Middlesworth BBQ Chips – Where are my central PA friends? These chips are only sold in central PA and I miss them DEARLY as a Hawaii resident. The bag smells like something unearthly when you open it, but holy heck….I can eat an entire bag in one sitting. In fact, maybe the fact that I can only get them in PA is why they are comforting to me?! Who knows.

Sandtarts – Has anyone ever had these cookies? Basically, they are exceptionally thin sugar cookie-like type of cookie that has an egg white glaze on the top. My grandma has made them for years and let me just tell you – I’ve tried many, many times to replicate them at home and it just doesn’t happen. First of all, the weather has to be just right for success and even then, it’s kind of a crapshoot based on a bunch of different factors, oven temps and the pan you’re using included. She tops them with RedHot candies and…I’m drooling just typing this. They have to be stored in a cold place, too, which makes them a tricky Hawaii cookie unless you’ve got oodles of refrigerator space. She only ever made them at Christmas time and she stored them on her porch in ice-cold Pennsylvania December. Gosh, they are so dang good!

Apple fritters – I have no idea where this “comfort” came from (maybe the delicious farmer’s market in my hometown? Who knows!), but whenever I see apple fritters on the menu somewhere or fresh at a bakery, I must order one. Even if I’ve already ordered something else entirely to eat – the apple fritter is coming home with me. And by coming home I mean that I’ll probably eat it all in the car and lick my fingers. They are MY FAVORITE! And while we are on the topic, only the ones with the big apple chunks and glaze on top count. The ones shaped as circles are donuts – not fritters. Sorry!

I am certain there are more on this list that aren’t immediately coming to mind, but these five popped into my head immediately. Tomorrow I’m sharing a similar post on my top 10 favorite foods…it’s a fun one 😉