Aug82012
The comforting magic of a chocolate chip cookie
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PDFGuest post by Kelli Herlevi.
When I hear the words, “comfort food”, two things come to mind. First, I think of the comfort food that I had on hand in August 2005, when we lived in Mississippi and experienced Hurricane Katrina. I had a huge bag of Tootsie Rolls in the storage room that I had purchased to donate to the local school for a fund raising activity. Luckily for me, I had not yet made the donation to the school before the storm hit. We did not have to evacuate but we were without power for 8 days. With all of the downed trees and the gas shortages, we were not able to leave our home so we had to make do with what we had on hand. Those Tootsie Rolls were magic for boosting my spirits as well as so many kids and adults through the neighborhood.
image by Jamison_Judd
The other aspect of comfort food that comes to my mind is the comfort food we experienced in 2004, when my father died unexpectedly of a massive stroke at the age 58. Because he died so suddenly, we were not prepared at all to deal with death and the craziness that comes with gathering family, making decisions, planning for a funeral and burial, and taking care of children along the way. Many, many people showed up with food of all kinds. With so many decisions and distractions, I completely forgot to feed my children. I had no appetite and feeding the little ones completely slipped my mind.
After a few days I realized there was so much food around, yet the only thing I wanted was a cookie. Just a regular, old, chocolate chip cookie. Gratefully, a kind neighbor delivered. I have never tasted a more satisfying cookie in all my life. That was all I needed to take a break for a few minutes and regroup so that we could continue to mourn and plan. One of the most important things that I learned was that when someone passes away and a family mourns–take food (preferably food that freezes well). My mother was able to feed her children and grandchildren for those few difficult days as well as feed herself for several weeks while she mourned and adjusted to the changes that death brings to a family.
Comfort food is soothing during times of fatigue, illness, or stress, and we often don’t realize its importance until we are in the middle of a crisis. Comfort foods differ from person to person and from family to family. Typically these foods are something that was served during a person’s childhood and they elicit fond memories. They are ofen high in carbohydrates. I’m not sure why!
Your food storage pantry should include ingredients to make the foods that are important to you and your family. They might be:
- Macaroni and Cheese (homemade, of course)
- Fried Chicken (can be served warm or cold)
- Apple Pie (what’s more American than pie?)
- Pizza (cold pizza is my favorite)
- Pasta
- Chicken Soup
- Mashed Potatoes (reminds us of holidays and family)
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Chicken and Dumplings
- Meatloaf
- Cake
What are your favorite comfort foods? What foods would put a smile on the faces of your loved ones in the middle of a crisis?
I heard someone say recently that their idea of comfort food was liver and onions. It reminded them of their Southern roots. It reminded me of the end of the world!
Comfort food is different for everyone. Don’t worry too much about what to offer someone in terms of comfort food. You would probably know someone well enough to know of any dietary restrictions or food preferences. Otherwise, consider the individual circumstances, and homemade is always a winner. And for the record, my favorite cookie is oatmeal.
© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.
(14) Readers Comments
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This Boston mom was ready for the worst
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Cheryl Hart
Heaven help me! Our favorite comfort food is plain old hamburgers with provolone cheese and Tater Tots! If that isn’t the most satisfying, artery clogging meal! But it sure does taste good! Especially if we are upset. Isn’t that what comfort food is about?
I do love your chocolate chip cookies though. Chocolate chip cookie on the side of the bowl with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yummmm…more artery clogging anyone?
Yes, we have made a serious effort to have “comfort foods” in our Food Storage. During a power outage during the holidays we had family staying with us. The 4 year old grandson was tickled to have macaroni (shells) and cheese with hotdogs. Made up fast on the grill, filled tummies, and oops….there went a few more arteries!
Even our BOBs have a few “comfort” items in them. Small stuffed animals for the grandbabies, crossword puzzle books for using our brains, and even 3 older Reader’s Digest magazines.
TJ Simpson
I recently learned how very important providing “comfort food” to someone going through a stressful time,such as a death in a family, can be; especially if they are on a restricted diet. A friend of mine lost a family member after a lenghty illness. While there were many in her circle of support who brought food on the day of the service – not many knew that both she and her mother-in-law were on a gluten free diet because of Celiac. I was aware of this, because of sharing a similar condition. I knew how difficult it might be for them to find foods to eat that day, that wouldn’t make them feel physically ill. I put together some simple sandwiches on GF bread, baked a GF cake and had GF chips on hand. My friend shared with me later, how this had been a blessing and a relief to them, to know they didn’t have to worry about what they ate that day, because I had told them, in advance, I’d make sure there were GF foods available for them to choose from. She literally had tears in her eyes when she thanked me – which made me want to shed some myself. Stress-filled times can be the prime time that we are tempted to forget about sticking to a special diet (even if we realize the consequences) because of all the other things going on around us. If you have a friend or friends in a similar situation – they’ll love ya for making the extra effort. If you’re uncertain how to put something GF together, the internet is a great
resource as well as most health food stores carrying “ready-made” products. Your friends might even give you some direction, if asked.
PS: There are some really yummy GF cookies out there.
Rob
Peanut butter and oatmeal no-bake cookies are a staple in my household.
Coupon Cook
Honestly, cabbage. I love a little boiled cabbage with sausage. I find a way to get hold of one when I’m most stressed. But its not exactly shelf stable…. I wonder if I could can up some cabbage and sausage without it falling apart in the process? Other than that I’m truly addicted to candy of almost any kind. And plain old Coke. Sometimes you just need a regular Coke. But since I can’t grow coke in my garden, I’ll probably have to make do with cabbage. ~Amber
Charley
white sauce with tuna,chunks of hard boiled eggs and peas in it. served over crescent rolls. My mom used to fix it when we were kids. the ingredients can be substituted with shelf stable alternatives. It isnt quit the same over scratch biscuits but still ‘comforting’ (the crescent rolls just give it a different taste)
I would consider any type of good ol home cookin comfort food.
Lisa
OMG Charlie, you and I have the same comfort food! White sauce with tuna (we call it “creamed tuna”, don’t ask me why) or white sauce with hard boiled eggs (likewise “creamed eggs”) but not together…might have to try that BEFORE a crisis! Maybe it will be double comforting? BTW we serve ours on toast.
Lisa in AZ
Karen
For me, comfort food is meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Or a whole roasted chicken with mashed potatoes. Yummy stuff! Add home made (gluten free) chocolate chip cookies and it would be the perfect meal to lift my spirits!
countrygirl
grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup,
or in a pinch any meat gravy and potatos
Gary Wolf
Ohh Grilled cheese and tomato soup! That’s where it’s at!
Mma800
Chicken pot pie (only my mother’s recipe will do!). English muffin pizzas were an after school favorite, and now a quick comforting dinner. American Chop Suey – this I can make just like my mother.
Gary Wolf
Mma800 Care to share mom’s recipe?
Jamie
Comfort foods are definitely included as a priority here. It is also a “southern” tradition (in my area at least) to bring food to the family after a passing of a loved one. I didn’t know this wasn’t done everywhere, until a friend from the north asked me why I was taking food by, the day before a funeral. My mother told me it was a way of letting friends, neighbors, and family know they are loved and not alone. Wish it was done everywhere.
Alex
I agree Jamie, this should be the custom everywhere. Part of my family is from North Carolina, so even though I live further north now, I continue this tradition. People greatly appreciate not having to worry about preparing meals when they’re busy grieving and making funeral arrangements.
Phil
In Mass we have done this for generations. Neighbors as well as families have an opportunity to support thier friends and end up telling some good stories along the way. It helps in some small way that they are not alone, and friends and family will help them through the process.