Food of Comfort.

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  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host, 8th Day Host
    My homemade macaroni and cheese was always a hit with my kids and their friends. Sometimes I'd add kielbasa chunks to it. Now, I mostly make the version my niece suggested: quinoa with broccoli florets prepared the same way as my traditional M&C. It's not quite as comforting as the more unhealthy version, but it's pretty tasty.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    OTOH, if it is an all too ordinary tomato, roasting it in olive oil with chimichurri seasoning improves it immensely.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    edited August 2020
    Firenze wrote: »
    OTOH, if it is an all too ordinary tomato, roasting it in olive oil with chimichurri seasoning improves it immensely.

    No. It just makes it inedible instead of purely meh.

    The squishy texture and the skin give me the willies. Quite apart from the taste.

    If I've led a wicked life, every morning in Hell will start with a cooked breakfast someone has ruined by letting a tomato - fresh or tinned - leach its demonic ichor over everything.

    My heart also sinks when what would otherwise be a perfectly good quiche, toasted sandwich or pizza turns out to have tomato in it.

    Which is all odd because I really like them raw.
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.
  • Lots of YayLots of Yay Shipmate Posts: 45
    Today I have to use up a lot of milk so I am going to make Nick Tamen’s macaroni cheese and an oat slice (recipe here) in a comfort food extravaganza.
  • That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.

    Hmm. I thought God was Jewish.
  • MooMoo Kerygmania Host
    Here is how I make macaroni and cheese.

    I take a ten-ounce block of sharp cheddar cheese and cut it into cubes. I put about 1/3 of the cubes in a food processor with a slice or two of bread, torn into small pieces.I process this until I have crumbs. I set the crumbs aside and put two tablespoons of butter and two of flour. I process this while pouring 12 oz. warm milk over it. When it's smooth, I set it aside.

    Meanwhile I have boiled a and drained 12 oz. macaroni for six minutes. I don't cook it until it's soft because it will cook further in the oven. I then mix the cheese with the cooked macaroni and pour it into a greased casserole. Finally, I sprinkle the cheese4 crumbs on top and bake at 350°F. The crumbs make a nice crust.
  • Ex_OrganistEx_Organist Shipmate
    edited August 2020
    KarlLB wrote: »
    Firenze wrote: »

    The squishy texture and the skin give me the willies. Quite apart from the taste.

    Have you tried frying or grilling a green tomato? Much better than ripe ones for this sort of cooking. They hold their texture and have a nice tang to the taste. Just a small dab of butter on the top while cooking makes them perfect.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    KarlLB wrote: »
    Firenze wrote: »

    The squishy texture and the skin give me the willies. Quite apart from the taste.

    Have you tried frying or grilling a green tomato? Much better than ripe ones for this sort of cooking. They hold their texture and have a nice tang to the taste. Just a small dab of butter on the top while cooking makes them perfect.

    Why would I bother when I can just let it ripen?
  • Green is a different beast entirely. I once made a green tomato curry that was quite heavenly and quite different from the usual kind. It may be time to try it again.
  • Love fried green tomatoes, green tomato pie, and my grans green tomato relish. Green tomatoes are the fruit of the gods.
  • MooMoo Kerygmania Host
    Love fried green tomatoes, green tomato pie, and my grans green tomato relish. Green tomatoes are the fruit of the gods.

    They also make excellent pickles

  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    Is this a pond thing? If you wanted green tomatoes here you'd have to grow them yourself.
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    Is this a pond thing? If you wanted green tomatoes here you'd have to grow them yourself.

    Well, I know that green tomato chutney is popular east of the pond and the film/novel Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe) suggests they are popular west of the pond.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    KarlLB wrote: »
    Is this a pond thing? If you wanted green tomatoes here you'd have to grow them yourself.

    Well, I know that green tomato chutney is popular east of the pond and the film/novel Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe) suggests they are popular west of the pond.

    Popular? I've seen it once in 50 years.
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    KarlLB wrote: »
    Is this a pond thing? If you wanted green tomatoes here you'd have to grow them yourself.

    Well, I know that green tomato chutney is popular east of the pond and the film/novel Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe) suggests they are popular west of the pond.

    Popular? I've seen it once in 50 years.
    Well, it got numerous Academy Award, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, and it did well at the box office.

    I’ve only seen Forrest Gump once in 50 years, and I did not like it. That fact doesn’t mean it wasn’t (and isn’t still) popular.

  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    edited August 2020
    Sorry, I missed the edit window.

    The claim was the the book and film suggest that fried green tomatoes (the food) are popular west of The Pond, not that the book and film themselves are popular. Fried green tomatoes are indeed a traditional dish in the American South.
  • Colin SmithColin Smith Suspended
    edited August 2020
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    Sorry, I missed the edit window.

    The claim was the the book and film suggest that fried green tomatoes (the food) are popular west of The Pond, not that the book and film themselves are popular. Fried green tomatoes are indeed a traditional dish in the American South.

    Thank you and exactly so. I make no claim about the film other than its title indicates green tomatoes are, at least in some places, popular west of the pond. Otherwise the title would be meaningless.

    Plus it was only made in 1991 so where 50 years came from I've no idea.
  • There are at least two establishments that claim to be THE whistle stop cafe. I have eaten fried green tomatoes at one of them...in Georgia.
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    Is this a pond thing? If you wanted green tomatoes here you'd have to grow them yourself.

    True and the only reason I bother to grow tomatoes.
  • KarlLBKarlLB Shipmate
    To clarify - I meant I've seen green tomato chutney once in my life. Not the film, reviews of which didn't make it appeal to me.
  • I think that it's one of those things that is made domestically, rather than commercially: if you only buy chutney in the shops you wouldn't see it, but if your chutney all comes from church sales or family members it's quite common. (In my experience it tends to be made in early autumn when it gets cooler and the light levels drop so they won't ripen any more.)
  • la vie en rougela vie en rouge Circus Host, 8th Day Host
    That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.

    Hmm. I thought God was Jewish.

    Clearly you have not read the Acts of the Apostles. Sausage sandwiches are in these days, which is irrefutable proof that the New Covenant is superior to the Old :mrgreen:
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    To clarify - I meant I've seen green tomato chutney once in my life. Not the film, reviews of which didn't make it appeal to me.
    Ah! Sorry for misunderstanding.

  • Nick Tamen wrote: »
    KarlLB wrote: »
    To clarify - I meant I've seen green tomato chutney once in my life. Not the film, reviews of which didn't make it appeal to me.
    Ah! Sorry for misunderstanding.

    Ah. That does make things a lot clearer. Not seen the film either for the same reasons.
  • TrudyTrudy Heaven Host, 8th Day Host
    I need to jump back in on the macaroni and cheese conversation because no other Canadian has done so, just to say that while we have the usual varieties of homemade macaroni and cheese with people's many different personalized recipes, as elsewhere, we also have a weird relationship with the boxed mac & cheese stuff mentioned elsewhere. It's always called by its brand name here, Kraft Dinner (even if you buy a generic brand that's not Kraft) or just "KD" and it is a widely loved convenience food -- probably one of Canada's "national dishes" I would say from the devotion people have to it. I personally hate it (I like homemade macaroni and cheese using my own recipe, but don't consider the boxed stuff even remotely similar) but I'm amused by the place it holds in our national identity.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Talking of national soul food, my mother's favourite dinner was cabbage, spuds and bacon. In her childhood they would all have been homegrown, including the pig.

    Secondly, soda bread. A friend remembers on a flight from Ulster to Canada to visit relatives, the aroma from luggage of fresh baking...

    And then there's The Pan, as in 'I'm just having the the pan for my tea'. Fried everything including, crucially, potato bread.
  • Penny SPenny S Shipmate
    Thinking over this thread this morning I was reminded of a Kipling poem, regarding tribal lays in which he proclaims "There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays,
    And every single one of them is right!". The same clearly applies to macaroni cheese. (Except that it is not right for UK vendors to interfere with the name.)
  • That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.

    Hmm. I thought God was Jewish.

    Jews, in general, don't demand that other people behave according to the dictates of their religion.
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    KarlLB wrote: »
    Is this a pond thing? If you wanted green tomatoes here you'd have to grow them yourself.

    Well, I know that green tomato chutney is popular east of the pond and the film/novel Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe) suggests they are popular west of the pond.

    Popular? I've seen it once in 50 years.

    I've seen the words on paper/screen. Never seen the item.
  • mousethief wrote: »
    That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.

    Hmm. I thought God was Jewish.

    Jews, in general, don't demand that other people behave according to the dictates of their religion.

    True. But do they serve them sausages :smiley:
  • mousethief wrote: »
    That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.

    Hmm. I thought God was Jewish.

    Jews, in general, don't demand that other people behave according to the dictates of their religion.

    True. But do they serve them sausages :smiley:

    I doubt very much that God will be manning the grills.
  • mousethief wrote: »
    That reminds me: if I have been particularly good and get sent to an especially cushy part of heaven, the angels shall awake me in the mornings with a sausage sandwich. White bread, untoasted, the sausages sliced in half lengthwise, and ketchup.

    Hmm. I thought God was Jewish.

    Jews, in general, don't demand that other people behave according to the dictates of their religion.
    Indeed. The dietary laws have always applied only to Jews, and not anyone else.

    True. But do they serve them sausages :smiley:
    Of course. Hebrew National sausages.

  • Penny SPenny S Shipmate
    edited August 2020
    There was a person by the name of Tubby Isaac Brenner involved in the sale of jellied eels in London, which I found curious.
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    True. But do they serve them sausages :smiley:

    Multiple varieties of sausages on sale here and readily available that do not contain any pork.
  • KarlLB wrote: »
    To clarify - I meant I've seen green tomato chutney once in my life. Not the film, reviews of which didn't make it appeal to me.

    The film is not to everyones tastes, but is actually delightful. Worth a watch, IMO.

    The food - no thank you. Not a big tomato fan anyway, or chutney.

    Comfort food - Pizza. Cheesy or mushroomy, or whatever you want. Fresh, how, scrumption.
  • Our tomato plants have fruited late this year (dunno why), and we presently have masses of huge green fruits.

    Will they ripen? Time will tell. But we will now try some fried, and also think about chutney.

    Thank you
  • Penny SPenny S Shipmate
    I did make green tomato chutney once, but don't know what I did with it afterwards. I had to get the recipe from my mum after the housepainter covered them where they were growing in the border against the house, and then forgot they were there and trod them down!
  • Ahhhhhh! The licorice toffees have arrived! And...they are really good. "Walker's Nonsuch Liquorice Toffees" are, indeed, a noble successor to the Callard & Bowser version.

    They are not something I can chow down on everyday. Now, if you'll excuse me...mmf fff seem to have some toffee stuck to mmmmff my teef...

    🥰🤣😀
  • TrudyTrudy Heaven Host, 8th Day Host
    Does anyone else read this thread title to the tune of Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah?

    Food of comfort
    Food of comfort
    Feed me till I cry no more!
  • BoogieBoogie Shipmate
    edited August 2020
    The vegan cake was excellent.

    Here is the recipe -

    1 cup SR flour
    I cup caster sugar
    2 tablespoons cocoa
    1/2 cup of rapeseed or olive oil
    1/2 cup of boiling water
    Aquafaba
    A pinch of salt

    Sift the dry ingredients together and beat the liquid ingredients. Then mix the two - the amount of aquafaba is to replace 3 large eggs.

    Bake on 190°C for 35 minutes (mine took longer but I did it in one tin - I’ll do it in two tins next time.)

    For the icing I used melted vegan chocolate - Aldi do a good one, it’s in with the normal chic bars but has no milk etc.
  • Trudy wrote: »
    Does anyone else read this thread title to the tune of Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah?

    Food of comfort
    Food of comfort
    Feed me till I cry no more!

    Yes, I did on a previous page.
  • TrudyTrudy Heaven Host, 8th Day Host
    Oh, I missed that while doing my Hostly read-through -- sorry!
  • mousethiefmousethief Shipmate
    edited August 2020
    Trudy wrote: »
    Oh, I missed that while doing my Hostly read-through -- sorry!

    No problem. Actually I think I did "Rock of Ages" and somebody else did "Guide Me".
  • Lots of YayLots of Yay Shipmate Posts: 45
    A banana slathered in peanut butter. Simple, not glamorous, yet hits all the right spots.

    Unless you don’t like bananas or peanut butter I guess.
  • I can't imagine that no one has yet suggested the best comfort food creation in the history of the world:

    Poutine!

    Fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
  • The5thMary wrote: »
    Ahhhhhh! The licorice toffees have arrived! And...they are really good. "Walker's Nonsuch Liquorice Toffees" are, indeed, a noble successor to the Callard & Bowser version.

    They are not something I can chow down on everyday. Now, if you'll excuse me...mmf fff seem to have some toffee stuck to mmmmff my teef...

    🥰🤣😀
    Walker's Toffee is lurvley. It's readily available in the supermarkets hereabouts (West Yorkshire) and also in mint and banana varieties. I don't like the flavour as a rule, but banana eclairs got me through early lockdown.

    Comfort food is whatever you most want in any given situation (sometimes ice cream, sometimes roast beast, sometimes a really tasty apple) but if you press me then MuminElmet's Belgian fricassee (meatballs in a thin gravy with apple sauce) and some sort of baked good (Parkin?) with hot custard. Maybe when the weather is colder.
  • Frozen sliced banana, blitzed with one teaspoon of cocoa ......
  • The Winnie the Pooh cookbook (yes, there is one, and very useful it is too!) has a recipe for Eskimo Bananas - peel and halve your bananas, stick a couple of toothpicks in the cut end and dip them in molten chocolate and then freeze. The toothpicks act as a lolly stick.
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