What is YOUR favorite comfort food?

How about comfort foods? I had dinner with one of my best girlfriends the other night and we had one of those nights that girl's have. Plenty of laughing, talking, and drinking great wine. So let's just say, because of all the "fun" we had, the next day I was in need of a little comfort food.

After getting up at the crack of dawn, doing a whirlwind cleaning, then having an early photo shoot with three little girls, I was ready for that comfort food and a nap. The comfort food came in the form of a grilled Havarti cheese sandwich and some chunky tomato soup with basil. The nap never came.

It's been a long time since I have had this age old combination. But it brought me straight back to my childhood. I have recently started conducting some interviews about food to different demographics of people and one of the things that I've asked is, "What is your favorite comfort food?" I have been fascinated by the answers! I have heard things like pot roast & mashed potatoes, lasagna, and most oddly; escargot!

I think my own list of comfort foods would include scalloped potatoes, oatmeal with butter & brown sugar, wild rice, bbq ribs, soup, baked potatoes, cereal... I've pondered what qualifies one to BE a comfort food. In fact, one lovely young man that I interviewed wasn't sure what a comfort food was and asked me for a definition. I figured it's different for everyone because this type of food conjures up images of, well, comfort! A food that makes you feel safe & happy, right? Ah, once again, the power of food to rule over even our emotions!

So this is why everyone has their own view of what comfort food is to them. It depends on where you were when you ate that food, and what memories are attached to it. A lot of my comfort foods bring me back to childhood. Things my mom cooked. The stuff she made me when I was sick or the things I just loved when she made them. These are the foods with the most history with me, I guess.

So how about comfort foods? When is the last time one wrapped you in it's arms? And why do they comfort you so? Add your picks to the list!