Comfort Foods

I am all about using food to comfort myself. I noticed as I ate several pieces of open-faced grilled cheese for dinner last night that I felt so soothed when I ate it. I could have probably kept going and made my way through a loaf of bread, a stick of butter and a package of american cheese slices, but fortunately I didn't. I just waited for today's lunch, and had some more.

So, in honor of the dreary weather, my dreary self and my yummy dinner/lunch, here is my Top Ten list of comfort foods. I'm probably going to have to do some rearranging to get them in some semblance of order, but I'll do my best!

10. French fries with mozzarella cheese and gravy. It's so old school, it's not even something I normally eat. But this was a huge diner item for me back in the day. Back in my high school days, when tons of us would head to the diner after hanging out and grab a plate of these, arms reaching across the table and digging in, dipping and munching. Flashes me back to a carefree time.

9. Pizza. It may not be considered comfort for some, but give me a nice huge slice of NYC pizza, heavy with cheese and sauce, and I'm feeling safe at home.

8. Stuffing. Simply said, Stove Top makes me happy. I ate so much of it during my pregnancy, it was seriously making up about 1/3 of my intake for 9-ish months.

7. Matzo Balls. The kind my dad makes. Huge, fluffy, big as a rock. SO delicious.

6. Soup. Pretty much cream of anything makes me extremely warm and content.

5. Chocolate. Seriously, do you have to ask?

4. Freshly baked cookies. Not much smells as good as a batch of freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven. Let them cool down enough so as not to burn yourself, but have them be warm enough that they're still soft and chewy. Oozing with chocolate chips. Ah, joyous day.

3. Macaroni and Cheese. I know I sound like Joey from FRIENDS, but consider this: pasta, good! cheese, good! Together? Good! (Review the "Trifle" episode if you're confused!)

2. Grilled Cheese. Nothing better than a diner-style grilled cheese, except maybe with some tomato inside. Or some turkey bacon in there, now that's an idea. Mmmn. But, as you can tell from my earlier remarks, home-style open-faced grilled cheese makes me just as happy.

1. Mashed potatoes. Without a doubt the most comforting of all foods. Works as a side or solo. With gravy or without. Add butter, cheese if you want (though I normally don't) and just dig in. Mashed potatoes make me so happy, I'd eat them every day if they were available. (Adding that pretty much ANY potatoes make me happy, french fried, sweet, baked, etc. but this is the topper of that entire list!)

So, there you have it. My Top Ten. What's yours? Leave me a comment with your favorite comfort food, or write your own Top Ten and let me know where it is so I can come by and read it!

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