Why do we crave soup when we’re sick? Why do we reach for a bowl of ice cream when we’re down in the dumps? Why do friends bring us a casserole when there’s a death in the family? Why does eating a warm, gooey grilled-cheese sandwich make us feel so good? The answer: soup, ice cream, casseroles and grilled cheese sandwiches are scrumptious comfort foods that warm our hearts, lift our spirits and remind us of our carefree childhood days and mom’s home cooking. (Our mom also made fried smelts and liver & onions; not on the comfort food list!)
I’m taking a survey: In your opinion, what is the ultimate comfort food?
Chicken pie?
Macaroni & cheese?
Pizza?
Ice cream?
A hot cup of cocoa?
Spaghetti & meatballs?
Chicken noodle soup?
Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies?
I vote for homemade chicken pot pie. (Made by someone else. I hate doing dishes!)
25 responses so far ↓
1 Roxanne // Aug 1, 2007 at 9:23 pm
Oh man, we can only pick one? Hmmmm….warm sticky cinnamon raisin chelsea buns, fresh from the oven.
2 Susan C. // Aug 3, 2007 at 9:21 pm
I’m with Roxanne; we should be able to vote for all the the above and I would add cream of tomato soup … just Campbell’s, nothing fancy … with a lot of ground pepper on top … oh, and croutons; croutons are good with anything, in that delightful not-good-FOR-us way …when we’re healthy, we crave them crunchy; when we’re ill, we crave them soggy. Who has the energy to chew?
3 Tracey Pritchard // Aug 4, 2007 at 2:10 pm
My ulimate comfort food in my opinion is Mac N cheese/& Spagetti and meatballs…..As I am in my mid 40’s /Let see in my early 30’s was pizza/burgers n fries…Early 20’s was shepard pie/chicken soup…Noticed how over the years things change….For the better don’t know..Maybe just everything changes….Tracey Pritchard Toronto, Canada….Take Care Now…Keep up the good work…On keeping everyone Healthy…
4 Robert G // Aug 4, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Chicken noodle soup, definitely. It’s something I eat only in a state of extreme misery (such as following surgery when I can’t breathe well enough to do anything more than nibble).
Hot chocolate is good, especially when you add a shot of real coffee. But don’t do it during the evening hours or you’ll pay a huge price in bed. Don’t believe me? I actually made the mistake of downing a full iced mocha espresso at 8 PM. It was 3 AM before I finally got to sleep.
Let’s see a new twist on good ol’ fish & chips, possibly with a squeeze of lime or orange instead of the traditional lemon.
5 Diane White // Aug 4, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Hi! my comfort food is home made chicken noodle soup……..When you girls were younger did you use to live on Chestnut St.I lived on Erie St closer to Ross St. I think one of you dated Greg Lauson.?
6 Theresa // Aug 4, 2007 at 11:42 pm
home made chicken soup. Same sick daughter… has requested mom’s chicken soup a couple of times since leaving the hospital. Waaaaay less sodium, less fat and better taste than any thing out of a can.
The trick is finding good soup chickens to cook with!
7 Wanda Coutu // Aug 6, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Hello Ladies!
I am very proud to say that I have tried almost all of the tv series featured recipes, and they all definitely qualify as comfort foods! My absolute favouries, though, HAS to be a tie between Smackaroni and Cheese, and Starvin Guy Chicken Pie. I freeze the pies to take to work as a quick and satisfying lunch, and I make the Smackaroni (smack-a ROOO-ni!) on weekends or when my brothers come over (I have 3 with HUGE appetites). Also, whenever I entertain, I always make something from your books, and is always a smash hit!!!!! (I am entertaining tonight with Flank n’ stein!)
Cant wait for the next new episodes!!!
Wanda Coutu
8 Theresa H // Aug 6, 2007 at 2:10 pm
My ultimate comfort food is cabbage rolls. In second place …… perogies with butter & onions and sour cream. Mmmm. It’s sad, but you just can’t make a small batch of cabbage rolls and have it taste the same. Or can you?
9 patty // Aug 6, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I would vote for fresh, homemade bread hot from the oven with REAL butter. Nothing better than that, especially if your house is filled with the smell of the bread cooking.
My other top choices include Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hotdogs, Chicago hot beef and Italian sausage sandwiches……Hmmmmm, I think I may be a bit homesick.
And of course, some ice cream or brownies or homemade cookie dough round off the list!
10 Cathy // Aug 7, 2007 at 8:13 am
Everything sounds good but my favourite is roasted chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and squash.
11 Greta // Aug 7, 2007 at 6:34 pm
These are all great answers. I’m HUNGRY!
12 Mary // Aug 7, 2007 at 10:17 pm
My favorites would have to be home made mac & cheese with crumb topping (savory) & home made carmel pecan buns (sweet).
13 Sarah K. // Aug 8, 2007 at 8:17 am
Those freshly baked chocolate chip cookies sound good to me! Mmmm. No one makes them better than my mom!
14 Stephen // Aug 13, 2007 at 3:02 pm
I can’t believe fresh baked sourdough isn’t on there. Or the darkest dark chocolate.
With what’s left, I suppose Mac&Cheese, but that’s a far distant third to my fresh bread and chocolate!
15 Janet Podleski // Aug 14, 2007 at 7:55 am
This message is in response to Diane White’s comment. Thanks for writing! My family grew up on Centennial Avenue in St. Thomas. We never lived on Chestnut Street. And I never dated anyone named Greg Lauson. (Same with Greta.) We have sisters who are ten years older. Maybe one of them?
16 Leanne // Aug 14, 2007 at 1:22 pm
From the list I would have to say ‘a cup of hot cocoa’, especially on a rainy cold day, being from Australia and experiencing my first winter of minus 40 last year in Northern Alberta, the need for ‘a cup of hot cocoa’ was highly increased!!! How do you Canadian’s do it, must have an extra layer of skin hehehehe
17 Leanne // Aug 14, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Oh, forgot to mention, just purchased all three recipes books and they’re fantastic, they’re more than a recipe book, very interesting to read all the little fat facts!
18 suZ // Aug 16, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Ahhhh Yes Comfort Food !!!
Definitely Cream of Tomato Soup BUT you must have it with Grill Cheese……guess whats for dinner?
NOW comfort food is Good Dark Chocolate and a nice Port….Cheers
19 Margo // Aug 18, 2007 at 12:45 am
Hmmm, tough choice, but I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned hot buttered popcorn. We must need a lot of comfort around here cause we eat a lot of that! Delicious homemade soups also top the list for me.
20 andie // Aug 22, 2007 at 2:28 pm
The ultimate for me? Cherry cheese danish, still warm from Michel’s Baguette!
21 Stephane Carret // Aug 23, 2007 at 10:58 am
If I’m unwell, soup really works for me (miso, chicken broth or tomato).
If I’m hale and hearty, I crave dairy foods, especially cheese and ice cream.
22 Norma Segreto // Aug 27, 2007 at 7:50 pm
The ideal comfort food is fresh baked italian bread with spaghetti and meatballs,
23 Brenda // Aug 30, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Hot chocolate made with 2 tsp pure cocoa, 2 tsp splenda and skim milk. It tastes rich enough to satisfy my chocolate craving.
24 colleen // Sep 29, 2007 at 10:56 pm
mine is the chicken mushroom rice cassarole
you know can of cream of muchroom soup, white rice nad chicken breast all bake together
help ladies
there has to be a better way to get this flavor that is not so bad for you
but keep it easy
thats one of the best parts of this recipe
25 Wendy // Oct 8, 2007 at 9:45 am
My comfort food is simple…scrambled eggs and cheese toast (bread with strong cheddar broiled until crispy). When my husband comes home and I am preparing this for dinner…he knows it has been a bad day!
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