Comforting favourites

in #steempress5 years ago (edited)


This blog is all about my favourites. Mostly. I do write sometimes about the things that weigh, but mostly, it's about things, people, stuff I love and which make me content.

I have difficulty separating comfort food from favourite food. I love food, and cooking and my kitchen (actually, any kitchen) is one of my most favourite places in the whole world. I'll find my way around any kitchen and cook. When I travelled to Johannesburg on business, I'd sometimes often stay with one of my dearest friends. One day, her then partner commented that they were running late and that someone had to see to the supper. Quick as a flash, her reposte:

Oh, I'm sure Fiona's already doing something about it.

She was right.

So, technically, what is the difference between comfort and favourite? Beside the fact that one is a noun and the other an adjective:

Comfort - [a] state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint

Comforts
- things that contribute to physical ease and well-being.

Favourite

  • preferred to all others of the same kind

I have some favourites that are not connected to food: my favourite animal (cat - unless you hadn't guessed). Favourite human - The Husband. Favourite rugby team: the Springboks. Now, food, well that's another matter, and for me, in many respects, the two are intertwined. Comfort is all about well-being and contentment, and food is associated with the most ancient of our senses: smell. Without a sense of smell, we can't taste. I cannot conceive of a world in which I will never taste again. I have had some experience of that.

Going on twenty years ago, I went on a business trip to Japan. The timing was less than optimal because it coincided with moving house - the first home that The Husband and made together. It was also about six months after the my father's death; my mother had died eleven months before that. Oh, and although neither had anything to do with the break-up of the other's previous marriages, we were both going through divorces. That was just for starters. As the year progressed, the company I'd invested in, and where I was working, went belly-up, The Husband retired; we got engaged. Look at that list and Google the things that cause the most stress in one's life...


I returned from Japan (nearly 48 hours' travelling with no sleep), having spent five days staffing a stand at a trade show, with a twisted ankle and a really bad cold. The ankle healed, cold went, but the streaming nose and eyes didn't stop, and with those streams went my sense of taste. Well, mostly. It came and went - largely associated with the extent to which my nose was blocked. That could be triggered by anything from a glass of Chardonnay and cooking a pot of fragrant rice, to nothing of any consequence. This is one of the reasons for my preference for Sauvignon blanc.

It's the only time in my life that the kitchen wasn't a happy place and I didn't enjoy cooking. I was never sure how a meal would turn out. The Husband still tells the story of our going out for supper one evening (when I returned from yet another business trip), and I chose the least expensive thing on the menu: a soy burger. He was appalled. My response:

"I can taste nothing. What's the point of paying a lot of money on something I can't taste?"

The Husband still tells me I've never produced a meal that was not both edible and delicious. Even then. I guess he's biased, but I'll take it.

What I could taste, though, was salt and sour, so salt and vinegar chips, or crisps as they're known elsewhere, became my go-to comfort food. There was a vendor who came to the office daily. I'd make a daily purchase. Only salt and vinegar. Nothing else. No salt and vinegar. No crisps.

We ultimately discovered that it was the house: it was damp and full of mould. We moved eleven months later and within a week, the symptoms were gone.

I could breathe.

I could taste.

Everything. All. The. Time.


I still enjoy salt and vinegar chips but eat them less frequently now. Actually, I can't remember when I last had a bag.

Ingredients


Now, my comfort foods are determined by taste and flavour - and have history - of course! The foods are tied into two of my favourite ingredients: eggs and tomatoes. Regular readers and watchers of my Instagram account will know this. Eggs routinely feature - and not just for breakfast.


I'll eat eggs any which way. For breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea.

Of course, my most favourite way to eat eggs is scrambled. I wrote a bit about that here.

Growing up, an annual crop was tomatoes. They are not essential to every meal, but if you're at a loss as to what to cook, and short of other ingredients, the trusty tomato is an essential standby. She has stood me in good stead. Often. When I've suddenly had to produce a meal. Some might say that a meal without a tomato is like kissing a man without a moustache. Or eating beef without mustard. As I've "grown up", I'm not sure about either, and am certain it's a matter of taste. That said, we do eat a lot of tomatoes. Raw and cooked.


As with eggs, I'll eat them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea. When we have a good crop, this is a common exchange:

Me to The Husband, "What would you like for dinner?"

Him, "What are you thinking?"

Me, "You can have anything you like as long as it's with tomatoes..."

Combine tomatoes with eggs, and I'm even happier. Poaching eggs in tomatoes? Great, comforting supper on a cold night. A shakshouka is my idea of heaven.


A cheat's Shakshouka - not quite as spicy and with just what was available.

As is homemade cottage pie.


Cottage pie infused with red wine and rosemary, topped with butternut and potato. (Photo: Dennie Pasion who described it as "the best").

Then there is pasta


Pasta is both a food and a key ingredient. I make my own, but before I did, and when I lived alone, a pasta supper was a very easy throw-together. With tomatoes, of course. I confess, too, that there were times I happily ate pasta with grated cheese and tomato sauce (ketchup). I kid you not.

Pasta, now that I make it myself, is not the unhealthy thing of commercial pastas: one jumbo egg to a cup of flour is ample to feed the two of us. When we ate commercial pasta, we'd eat twice the quantity.


Pasta suppers - with and without tomato.

Most often, our pasta suppers are vegetarian affairs - usually with herbs, if not vegetables, from the garden.

My top three most comforting meals (foods)


Among the meals that bring me most comfort are a traditional roast and gravy - especially lamb with mint and onion sauces, followed by the dishes that I conjur up with the left over meat, vegetables and gravy. These are based on dishes my mother used to make and which I loved.

If, though, I have to narrow it down, and one must, to just three -

Third place: Creamy tomato pasta



Creamy tomato pasta - need I say more?

Second place: Fish, parsley sauce and peas


This meal gives the lie to my Scottish roots as it is very English. Blame it on the Sasenach genes I inherited from my mother. Fish, parsley sauce and peas.


An added bonus would be new potatoes, boiled with mint. Or chips.

Top spot: Tomato soup


The pièce de résistance, though, is tomato soup. It has always been a favourite and when I'm feeling poorly or when I can't do coffee (because two cups are the limit for my caffeine intolerance), I will have a cup of tomato soup. I confess.


My daily fix. In a blue and white mug. Of course.

In my mid-twenties, I had the worst dose of 'flu - and I do mean influenza - I had ever had in my life. I lived alone and the only thing that kept me alive going was tin after tin after tin of Heinz's tomato soup.

"Do you need anything, Fiona?"

"Tomato soup".

Not chicken soup. Not chocolate. Just tomato soup.


Fresh tomato soup.

Now I make my own tomato soup with fresh tomatoes. Add cream and you have cream of tomato.

Two last words:


As I was preparing this, I realised that other than the scrambled egg post, it hadn't entered my head to share my recipes for roast lamb with its trimmings, let alone the fish and parsley sauce and the tomato soup. Let me know if you'd like any of these, and I'll add them to my "to do" list.

And, secondly -

There is a bunch of great people on Steemit who run a monthly contest-cum-writing prompt. This is rambly my entry.



Until next time
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa




Photo: Selma

Post Script


In addition to WordPress I blog on a number of platforms:

  • Steemit - a crypto, social network and blogging platform, to which I post from WordPress using the SteemPress plugin.
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On the Steem platform, I am part of these communities








Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://www.fionasfavourites.net/2019/11/06/comforting-favourites/

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I’ll trade you a Melomakarona for that salad!

Which salad? Oh, you mean the tomato one? It's a deal @dandays :D

This is the 77th comment on this article. 77, to put that in perspective, I just learned how to count to 100 last Wednesday.

Hahaha! Who's counting? I do words, not numbers..... ;)

Oh my, as missionaries working on tiny salaries we could only afford cheap accommodation through the years resulting in several encounters and health problems with mould. A terrible substance indeed!

Some great meals here as usual Lady Fiona!
Blessings!

Dreadful, mould. Truthfully, it's taken nearly 20 years to outgrow the allergies that developed. This year, so far, virtually no symptoms. Thanks for stopping by @papilloncharity

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I still have a strange skin allergy that not one dermatologist can diagnose Lady Fiona. Picked it up in 2012, little red severely itching hive type of things that flare up in the sun. Not eczema, pimples, psoriasis or any of the other things. Had allergy tests and found clean. The only thing that helps is Cortizone. Been taking Celestamine tablets and a cortizone cream daily ever since.
A real disturbing condition.
Blessings!

How awful. At least you can manage it. Good evening!

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Yep, you've done it, you've made me hungry. Or at least hungrier. Definitely lunch time now.

I'm thrilled that someone other than me knows the term sassenach. :)

Lunch today is likely going to include tomato soup; it's a great choice for sure!

Hahaha! It's approaching supper time here. And, guess what? It's pasta!

Well as you gathered, my father married a sasenach. Constantly reminded her of that... I'm so glad I didn't have to explain it to everyone.

Tomato soup - enjoy it!

I was surprised your top spot was Tomato soup! Everything else look so delicious!! Well, porch egg is my favourite and the most difficult for me to make...

Hahaha! Yeah, well, I have chicken soup baggage. A story for another time, perhaps ☺

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This was, as they say, worth the wait! You definitely did not disappoint, and I feel I got one more level deeper into the heart of Fiona. Oh tomatoes, I could wax poetic about fresh-picked tomatoes all day. Funny as growing up I got about as far as ketchup or pizza/pasta sauce, but wouldn't touch a fresh one. On a hamburger or sandwich? I'd pull that sad floppy red thing right off. And that is why--I pretty much mostly experienced the grocery store version of tomatoes, not the gorgeous specimen that is garden grown! We're currently harvesting every last little green cherry tomato while we can before the plant completely wilts for the season, haha.

Pasta, oh that's another one that speaks to my soul. Though that is another realm I haven't entered yet, the realm of homemade that is, a basic bowl of plain noodles was probably the very first thing I learned to cook on my own. If all else failed, I would survive all carbed up and happy. To refer once again to my beloved grandmother, other than delicious pancakes, the only other edible item she made was a bowl of pasta. As children we were perfectly happy eating dinner of spaghetti with butter and Parmesan for dinner, and waking up to pancakes in the morning.

Truly heart-warming (and belly-warming) choices Fiona. We are honored to have you bring your best to our table!

You are very kind, Katie. I do enjoy the opportunity for the virtual breaking of bread that my writing/blog offers.

For me, unless you haven't guessed, food and memories - totally intertwined 🤐

I am so with you on the tasteless, soggy tomato and limp lettuce on a burger! There I will also ladle it with ketchup!

Home made pasta is really easy. Except I am not sure about a vegan one. I shall have to do some homework. The egg is a protein and binding element. And then working the dough to release the gluten does the same. A homemade vegan option must possible I am sure. I feel some homework developing.

Pasta, butter and parmesan: I could so eat that.

Relish in the last of those little 🍅 Ours are getting there...☺🥂

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Wonderful post @fionasfavourites! Some of my favourites here as well; I'd pick Cottage pie as my number one from your list, that's the one thing I enjoy most for a weeknight comforting meal;) Your other food looks delicious too, The Husband is not wrong would be my verdict!

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Hahaha! Thank you, Lizelle!

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Hi, @fionasfavourites!

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All that food looks delicious.

I'm happy I ate before clicking your topic because if I didn't I would be running to grab a bite to eat after looking at all that tasty looking food.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Sorry I made you hungry. Not 🤭

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Always enjoy your the personal nature of your posts. Thanks for sharing.

In Lak'ech, JaiChai

Thank you @jaichai - and for stopping by.

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Informative post as to why you enjoy some meals whether in good health or not Fiona.

All simple healthy dishes reflecting food does not have to be expensive, it is the care and attention in preparation given to each dish (except the cuppa soup) that leads to enjoyment.

Hahaha! - even the Cuppa Soup needs attention otherwise it ends up all lumpy...urgh!

And no, the meals don't have to be expensive to be healthy and wholesome!