Good Food Blog

Winter warmers

Posted at 3:32PM, 24 November 2010 by Dulcima Mansell - Food writer

It's that time of year again, the heating is on, there is frost on your car in the morning and you find yourself craving a big bowl of your favourite comfort food. Ask anyone to define 'comfort food' and the same adjectives will come up time and again: homely, reassuring and indulgent. But what foods are they referring to? And why do we crave certain foods over others?

Open quotationI decided to quiz friends and family on their ultimate comfort food and wasn't surprised that, being cold outside, the overwhelming majority listed warm and savoury foods...Close quotation

I decided to quiz friends and family on their ultimate comfort food and wasn't surprised that, being cold outside, the overwhelming majority listed warm and savoury foods rather than sweet ones. There were, of course, a few mentions of cake, biscuits and chocolate but the real favourites turned out to be all things carb: lasagne , macaroni cheese and mashed potato all proving very popular.

I can split my comfort foods into two distinct groups, those which are a quick fix (chocolate and a nice glass of wine) and those which take time to make, the process of making them being part of the comfort. A couple of very virtuous people said they turn to soup in their hour of need. Soup is far too healthy to feature on my list, but I must agree there is definitely something restorative about making my own, especially if I make my own bread to serve alongside.

Mostly, when I am in need of something comforting I turn to pasta . Lots of pasta. Far more than someone of my size should be able to consume. Pasta was always the food of choice when I came back from visiting my fiancé (when we were long-distance) and I was in need of something to cheer me up. The sauce on the pasta did not matter and cheese was a must.

A lot of people I asked had a strong memory linked to their 'go to' food, such as a friend who spent a few childhood years in Jamaica - his family taking with them a catering sized tub of Marmite to remind them of home. Now he always turns to Marmite on toast when in need of a pick-me-up.

What became clear in my, admittedly rather unscientific, research is that our relationship with food and the feelings it can invoke are personal to the individual and not just about a list of ingredients.

So what is your comfort food of choice? Are you a fellow carb-aholic? Or are you one of the soup lovers of this world? Do you head for the chocolate and ice-cream or do you prefer your comfort foods savoury?

Post a comment

Comments

  • Binder photo Colette
    25 November 2010, 11:54AM

    Colette

    Open QuoteI'd have to say my comfort foods are quite similar to your own. Hot and savoury definitely wins the day - what about a big bowl of beef stew made with red wine and a pile of mashed potato. The quick fix alternative always guaranteed to cheer me up and take me back to childhood is champ. Mashed potato with scallions, butter and milk and piled onto the plate to form a little mountain, then excavated in the middle to place another large knob of butter to melt - absolutely a hug on a plate!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Mary
    25 November 2010, 1:34PM

    Mary

    Open QuoteWinter comfort foods for me are anything between a quickly made beans on toast ... to shepherds pie .. fish & chips ... baked potatoes with filling ... meatballs with spaggetti ... meat cooked in the slow cooker served with mash ... On the sweet side of things .. sponge puddings with custard ... fruit crumble and custard ect ...

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Lushious
    29 November 2010, 9:44AM

    Lushious

    Open QuoteFor me, anything with a bit of mash on the side, or suet!!! How I love a dumpling! Internal central heating.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo julie
    1 December 2010, 12:42PM

    julie

    Open QuoteCurry is my ultimate comfort food, but preferably in a really old fashioned flock wallpaper type restaurant. i think i relate it to when i was young and it was the ultimate treat to go for a curry! And near to home obviously. The poppadoms have to come with lurid yoghurt/mint/coriander sauce, samosas and onion bhaji's to start and then chicken jalfrezi or anything with chillis in! and a keema naan on the side! oh, and of course a few glasses of wine....

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo kate
    2 December 2010, 1:28PM

    kate

    Open QuoteSteak and kidney pudding served with mash and garlic cabbage - absolutely gorgeous - the smell of the pudding when the meat starts cooking is divine!!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Michael H
    2 December 2010, 4:11PM

    Michael H

    Open QuoteColette well played! A great choice of comfort food and yes scallions it is none of your namby pamby spring onions.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo hannahstott100
    2 December 2010, 6:45PM

    hannahstott100

    Open QuoteMy favourite winter warmer is either the Sausage and Lentil Hotpot on this website or my french onion soup the recipe of which I've put on my blog! http://floralsandfood.blogspot.com/

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Lisa
    6 December 2010, 5:06PM

    Lisa

    Open QuoteI am definitely a fan of carbs- mashed potato being my all time favourite comfort food and the food I crave if I am feeling unwell! When I was a child my mum used to give me mashed potato with vegetable soup poured over the top and I loved it!! Is that weird? I am also a big fan of one pot wonders such as chili, beef stew and dumplings, sausage casserole and curry.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Sho
    7 December 2010, 11:08AM

    Sho

    Open QuoteI love my comfort food, there are so many things on my list: Dark Chocolate and Red Wine (together with a cosy blanket and a chickflick, you can't beat it), Macaroni Cheese, Chilli with Nachos and an unhealthy amount of cheese, Thai Green Prawn Curry, or the one that I have at least once a week is homemade egg fried rice with prawns and a very generous helping of Sweet Chilli Sauce :) hmmmm heaven!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo jane19832
    7 December 2010, 2:29PM

    jane19832

    Open Quotehey i need a bit of help there was a recipie on here for beef broth (or soup) with homemade bread, having lost the paper i had it on i was wondering if anyone knows how to get it again as i cant find it on the site anymore? any help would be appreciated thanks x

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo mum-2
    8 December 2010, 9:15PM

    mum-2

    Open QuoteA nice casserole,served in a large yorkshire pudding. You can't beat a homemade rice pudding done in the slow cooker,of course with lovely cream stirred in just before serving.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo cutiepie
    12 December 2010, 1:45PM

    cutiepie

    Open Quotemy faviorite winter warmer is definatly french soup or veggie toadin the hole. what would we do without them

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo sdfsdfas
    24 January 2011, 1:56AM

    sdfsdfas

    Open QuoteThank you for your sharing,The article is nice everybody, the good shoping place Welcome to: http://www.vipgoto.com >>>------I love you! ----> Believe you will love it. Accept paypal or credit card and free shipping.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

 

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here