Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power,
has that ability to comfort.
~ Norman Kolpas
has that ability to comfort.
~ Norman Kolpas
Our peeps are taking good care of us. 4 of 8 has received generous good wishes from all of you, my blog buddies. She got the new Kit Kittreredge movie from her cousin. Her soccer team had warm, fresh cookies delivered to our door. A pumpkin pie arrived from the next-door neighbor.
And my precious three-doors-down neighbor, my buddy that sees all the chaos of the Octamom house and loves us anyway, brought us a wonderful dinner the night we brought 4 of 8 home from the surgery.
And without realizing it, she filled both our tummies and our hearts.
She made us chicken spaghetti, garlic bread, fresh salad and layered dessert.
She had unknowingly tapped into our comfort-food psyche.
M's mom, MiMi, always makes chicken spaghetti. When our babies were born, there was usually a casserole dish of MiMi chicken spaghetti in the oven. When we would gather for a Sunday afternoon lunch, chicken spaghetti was a frequent entree. Chicken spaghetti speaks comfort and care and home and succor for us.
And then there's the layered dessert.
'Layered dessert' is its good girl name. M's Grammy often made this concoction for us. It's a crust of pecans and butter and flour, topped with alternating layers of chocolate pudding and whipped cream and shaved chocolate and more nuts. It's just a creamy, dreamy confection. M's Grammy called it 'layered dessert' if she took it to a church function. But for family gatherings, this dish has a more, um, direct title...she always called it 'Sex in a Pan'.
Chicken Spaghetti and 'Layered Dessert'--a meal that goes from the dinner table straight to the heart, leaving us with a full sense of being nurtured and cared for, a taste of comfort on a tough day.
So my precious neighbor JT showed up with this menu for us, a casserole dish of comfort, even though we are many miles from extended family. She blessed us with the awareness that God can give us family where ever He takes us. She blessed us with a less stressful evening as we settled 4 of 8 in for the night.
She blessed us by bringing us a taste of home. And making here feel more like home.
And that is truly a comfort.
I know you've got them, too, those dishes that transcend your taste buds and speak to your soul. So share with the rest of us those treats and entrees and bowls of goodness that mean home and comfort, care and nurture. Feel free to post a comment in the comment box, or write your own post on this topic, leaving the url and your name in the Mister Linky's box below. Share a little of your soul food!
Praying for your daughters speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteI dont know that I have specific comfort foods. I do, however, have favorites dishes.
ReplyDeleteI love Crawfish Ettouffe.
I love dish I cook called "Drunk Italian Hog".
I love my wifes Chicken Marsala.
I love anyones Shrimp Scampi.
You cant beat a bologna/cheese/onion/mayo sandwich.
I love General Tso's Chicken.
I love a good seasoned and beaten New York Strip Steak cooked 'brown throughtout but not burnt'.
OK .. I am hungry now !
MMMMmmmm, Makes me want to stay home and cook today!!
ReplyDeleteIt all sounded so yummy especially the "Sex in a pan".I don't really have any sort of comfort food.So I will live it through you today.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how someone bringing a meal does more than just supply food - it makes us feel more connected, less alone in whatever we are going through at the time. I used to almost weep when people brought meals to us postpartum.
ReplyDeleteStrangely, what works for me is vegetables that begin with "A" - avocado, asparagus, artichoke (usually with melted butter or hollandaise sauce-not the avocado though!).
ReplyDeleteAlthough, what I tend to make for other people is pasta bake, (with salad or garlic bread) and chocolate fudge pudding (with cream or ice-cream). The whole family can eat it, my children can help make it, and it can usually sit for a while (like in the car on the way over) without spoiling.
For anyone who wants the recipe:
http://seasontotastecooktilldone.blogspot.com/2008/10/easy-oven-bakes-for-kiddies.html
One of my favourites is Cheddar chicken (I guess it's a pasta bake in a way) and it's my standard when I am supplying a meal to a family in need. I whipped up a huge batch this afternoon. one for us, one supersized dish for a friend with a wee little newborn (I found leftovers were a godsend with a new baby in house so I always try to make enough for leftovers), one for the freezer for when I hear of someone that needs a little help at short notice. It sure is comfort food with chicken and bacon and pasta and it has so many veggies hidden in it. The kids gobble it up and mum has another night free from worrying about kids not eating veg. I love to cook for my friends!
ReplyDeleteWow. What amazing friends you have. That is just wonderful!
ReplyDeleteBeef stew or warm pasta casserole are both good comfort foods for me. :)
I am hungry now :) Hope you have a great day! ♥ Hugs!
ReplyDeletewow.
ReplyDeleteRon has some seriously exotic taste buds;-)
hey-
I quoted you in my post today!!!!
What a sweet neighbor and friend. There really isn't anything better than a home cooked comfort food meal to make us feel loved by community.
ReplyDeleteContinuing to pray for 4's recovery.
Hope your little one is recovering well
ReplyDeleteI just wanted you to check out
Heth - from under the laundry pile
she is a mom of a seven and has a very funny writing style too - maybe you already know of her
http://laundrypile.blogspot.com/
You've inspired me to begin planning dinner and make something decent for once!
ReplyDeleteWe're sending wishes you way for your daughter's speedy recovery and continued good eating in your house! :-)
Hope the recovery goes well.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to read that you have such wonderful people surrounding you to help you out. Good food not only feeds the belly but the soul as well when it is given from loving hands that prepared it.
You and your family are still in my thoughts and prayers. That really was so sweet of your neighbor.
ReplyDeleteI love it when people step up to the plate and serve others. Both parties end up feeling warm and fuzzy inside :)
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear all the love you have received. Cheesecake. :)
ReplyDeleteI love doing this for others. I always bring cookies or banana bread to new neighbors. My favorite time of year is NOW! Chili, stew, Tatortot hotdish...yummy. I need to make that tonight!
ReplyDelete1 lb. Ground beef (cooked), 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup, 1/2 bag frozen french cut green beans, mix it together (I do add some onion, salt and pepper.) Put it in a baking dish, add a layer of tatertots and bake 1 hour. (I have a family of four and no leftovers so double or triple it.) SO yummy.
I hope 4 of 8 is having better nights. That nausea from the pain meds is nasty! COntinued prayers for healing.
ReplyDeleteRoast chicken and vegetables is my comfort food.
Could you come leave some advice on my latest blog please?
I forgot, homemade tapioca pudding. Mmmm. Of course, I haven't had it in probably 20 years because no one else would eat it, but I love it. I just realized how pathetic that sounds, I'll have to make some soon, because I'm worth it!
ReplyDeleteStill praying for your sweet baby. I hope she had a better day!
ReplyDeleteMmmmmm... My mom's red broth soup with buttered raisin bread. I requested it after each baby and my surgery. My sister wants it after her seizures. It is simple and nourishing and NOW I want some too!!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet that your neighbors and friends stepped up to help you all out!
ReplyDeleteI hope your daughter has a speedy recovery.
Isn't it great to have wonderful neighbors like that? Mine moved away last year. I miss her, but try to be a good neighbor like she was to those around me. Glad you have here there for you. I know what it is like to live far from your family. We will keep your 4 of 8 in our prayers. Hope she recovers well and soon!
ReplyDeleteSending hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery to Miss 4 of 8! I would love to try your chicken spaghetti, my family comfort food favorite is a spaghetti casserole too!
ReplyDelete{{hugs}}
Steph
Please excuse the strange giveaway solicitation - the link is correct...Mr. Linky is misbehaving for me lately!
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if you'd like to win a pair of babylegs for your sweet little one, by all means enter while you're visiting! :)
{{blushing}}
My favorite would be some kind of soup or stew, with home made bread, rolls or corn bread and a pie for dessert. I may throw in a salad, though my kids would only eat it if they can drowned it in catalina dressing.
ReplyDeleteomgosh, I didn't know about your daughter's surgery! I hope she's recuperating well, poor thing!
ReplyDeleteMmmm, Never post about yummy food to a pregnant woman unless your willing to cough it up!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a blessing when friends and family rally to help like that -- esp. with meals. They mean more to me than any other gift (mainly because I hate to cook, but also because it's just a huge load off my schedule.)
ReplyDeleteI hope she recovers and is dancing around again soon!
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