COMFORT FOOD TO THE RESCUE

by Tracewillow

I’m always hungry.   Perhaps it has something to do with listening to too much of BEGIN….I dunno.

The thing is, how can I come into a David Archuleta site and not think about food?
At this very moment, I have a plate of Mee Goreng perching precariously on my lap (I once had a bowl of Maggi Mee doing the same thing while I was browsing David ….and guess what happened?! …..Ouch!   Hot soup!)
I also have a Bread and Butter Pudding waiting on the KIV shelf of my fridge for later’s.
All not very good for my ever-expanding waistline!

David has always been described as a good role model for young people.   Since I’m neither young nor need a role model, I see him more as “a comrade-in-arms” or “a partner in crime” as far as food is concerned.   So, like David, I’m continuing to eat…and eat…

Anyway, I want to challenge my will-power and refrain from talking about David today.
I want to talk about everyone’s favourite topic – Food….yes…Glorious Food! ……Oops sorry…I meant 2nd favourite topic.
So do interrupt me if I should digress towards David (you know how distracting he can be!).   I want to focus on discussing with you, all the yummy things we put into our mouths for comfort – yes, Comfort Food.

Why are certain categories of food considered “comfort food”, or, as some would call it,  “soul food”?
– Does it really give us comfort?
– Does it feed the soul?
– Are we missing our Mum’s cooking?
– Does it have a cultural or childhood connection?
– Are we missing David?  (…er…sorry for the David-interruption…)
Apparently, the answers to all those questions are YES.

Comfort food, I am told, is food, subject to one’s taste, history and culture, when consumed in large amounts, relieves stress, calms moods, sooths nerves, dissipates negative energy, boosts positive energy and serves as a sweet reminder of our younger, carefree days.

The most enticing part is it does not even make us feel guilty eating huge amounts of it.   The contentment derived from it takes a forefront position.

Besides its nostalgic and sentimental appeal, Comfort Food is a friend who never disappoints during times of need.   It leaves us satisfied, happy and ready to re-conquer the world.
It is a harbinger of happiness and comfort.

Apparently, when we feel endangered or lonesome, or need a cuddle, we crave for food which is salty or very sweet, of high-carbo, high-fat and starchy and often sticky.

The list of such food is enormous.   Off-hand, I can think of popular ones like Ice-cream…Deep-Fried Chicken with Crispy Batter…a rich Cheesy-Somethin’…Char-Kueh Tiow (actually this tastes better than Pad Thai but David….oops sorry…)

One of my top priority comfort food is a Hakka Yam Dumpling which my Mum used to cook.   It is overly salty (fish sauce), overly garlicky, overly greasy and extremely stodgy but oh-so-yummy.   A non-Hakka friend once described it as “so stodgy it can sink a ship!”

Occasionally,  when I’m in a foul, devillish or no-tomorrow mood, I yearn for Bangers and Mash, with loads of butter and double-cream in the Mash.   Gorging it and listening to David simultaneously is like “halfway to heaven”.
Why only “halfway”? – you ask.  Well, just so that I can have more helpings!  –  Of the Mash.   And of David.  (Oh dang…sorry…)

Not a bad thing huh – what Comfort Food can do for you.
Self food-medication through the taste-buds and stomach
Stomach sends signals to the brain
Brain de-stresses
Better and tastier than popping anti-depressant pills.

If you are heavily immersed in food for comfort, let me introduce you a Soul Food that is of zero-carb, zero-fat and zero-cholestral.   And it is divine.

It is a dumpling made of Ostrich meat.
The market and consumption of Ostrich is not yet sufficiently tapped.   But, believe me, the popularity will grow gradually.
It keeps aunties and uncles youthful and decidedly comforted, and young people happy, perky and positive.
But it needs to be consumed on a daily basis for better effect.

It is by no accident that it’s called Ostrich Divine Dumpling! …hehehehe…GOTCHA!!!
I did warn you that I’ll digress towards David!  
And no apologies forthcoming! 😀

Do share your list of Comfort Food.
Recipes too perhaps?