Comfort food vs Soul Food
Comfort food is a funny thing how it relates to me in my life. It's a funny thing because as I've grown older, I find my comfort in making and creating the comfort food/meal. It's not about the comfort and satisfaction while eating the meal, it's the satisfaction of being able to get whatever it is just right...getting that taste and flavor the way it's supposed to be(relying on that ancestral connection). That's what makes me feel comforted...then of course I have to eat it because I made it and don't want to see my hard work go to waste.
Recently, it came upon my spirit to make some pancakes for breakfast. Those who know me, know I'm not a breakfast person, but anyway I continued. Instead of regular plain Aunt Jemima mix pancakes I dressed them up with some caramelized apple slices. The apples tasted sooo delicious. The syrup from the apples substituted the Mrs. Butterworth or Maple syrup with which I planned to top the pancakes, instead the drizzle of the apples and the caramel-like syrup were just right. It could even double as an ice cream topping. I felt so accomplished and it was such a decadent flavor that I was actually overly satisfied.
This gets me to thinking about some of my other comfort foods which are cheese grits, chicken pot pies, salmon croquettes with white rice, chicken vegetable soup, anything with cornbread, and the list continues. Upon reflection I guess these are all ingredients to a bigger picture or meal of sorts. Usually these meals were at the start or end of a day that was filled with my favorite people. Or the recipe/preparation is so special because it was shared with me by a very important person. Who'd ever think cooking white rice could be anything but mundane? Well at my house it's not just rice or mundane, and that's because My Dad taught me how to get it just right every time. It's all about working smart and not hard(and a little bit of math).
Then I get to wondering about soul food and of course the tradition of making a big deal around a big dinner. I mean there's a whole movie about the importance of Soul Food and how it brings the family together through the good and bad times. I mean at this point in my life there is a bit less soul food around and much more comfort food. Maybe at this time, comfort is more of a necessity or it is all about what you make it.
Is there really a difference between the two?
What are some of your favorite foods/comfort foods?
Who do they make you remember?
Is it the preparation or eating that's most satisfying to you?
Do you think there's a difference between Soul Food and Comfort Food?
The recipe is below:
Ingredients:
4 tbsp of butter
1/4 cup of brown sugar
ground cinnamon (to taste)
2 apples (your preferred variety)
Directions:
1.) Peel, core, and slice apples,
2.) Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan.
3.) Place apples in saucepan and cover turning the heat on low.
4.) Let cook for 25 minutes or until apples are tender,
5.) Enjoy your topping!
Makes 2 servings
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