7/20/24
12:04 am
I just responded to a daily prompt. Once again my sleep schedule is less than desirable. I got sleepy this afternoon, laid down for what I thought was going to be a short nap, and woke up 5 hours later. So here I am, writing again in the wee hours of the morning.
Comfort food. Good topic and so many choices.
Personally, I like carbs, all carbs. Bread and pasta are at the top of the list.
I remember the homemade dinner rolls that my grandmother and aunts would batch bake. The smell of baking bread is such a pleasant sensory experience. We used to have a Wonder Bread bakery here in our town and we would just drive by that intersection to smell the bread baking. Good memories.
Then there was the fry bread my relatives would make during our traditional services or meetings. These are prayer services for individuals, celebrations, or sometimes holidays. Fry bread is just a dough that is cooked in hot oil over an open flame. It puffs up while it cooks and is golden, crispy, and very airy on the inside. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It is normally served with our other traditional foods made from corn, squash, beans, and potatoes in the form of soups or gravies. My cousin Elizabeth is an excellent fry bread maker who has passed down her secrets to her nieces and nephews.
I learned how to make buttermilk biscuits from my other grandmother. She made them tall, buttery, fluffy, and flaky then paired them with her homemade gravy. She was an excellent cook. We would gain weight with her every summer from the 3 to 5 course meals and eating 3 times a day with snacks. Her love language was food. I miss those big family meals during the holidays.
Pasta is my go to if I want a simple but filling meal. I learned how to make it some years ago but my hands are not what they used to be. I haven’t made homemade pasta in quite a while. I have found some good pasta in the organic food stores when I can afford it otherwise we find bulk buying dried pasta is more convenient.
Learning how to cook it to the perfect al dente texture is still in progress. Sometimes 10 to 12 minutes works then other times it takes up to 16 minutes, depending on the brand.
The only disappointment in pasta has been trying alternative versions such as lentil or chickpea based to cut down on the carbs for health reasons. I did not like the texture, it was too grainy. I tried making my own with almond flour but it was too gummy. So for now we will stick with the dried pasta but limit the intake.
Comfort food is like that favorite worn blanket or trusty sweater. It makes everything seem better or okay. It can bring back good memories and sometimes still the anxiety filled thoughts. It surrounds you with good vibes.
Thank you for stopping by.
Have a good week!
Peace, love, and good vibes.
Suzanne
love to bake 