The Comfort Food Issue: Recipes That Are There For You

Why comfort food might just be our favorite food

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Devan Grimsrud

Food Editor at Kitchen Stories

www.instagram.com/devan.grimsrud/

When I think of comfort food, I think of dipping the pointed tip of an after-school grilled cheese sandwich into a thick bowl of tomato soup. How my great grandmother spooned rich gravy over tender hunks of beef pot roast, the dish she always served because she knew it was my favorite. The torturous, but rewarding, wait to cut the first piece of lasagna when you pull it from the oven. And what about ice cream as it melts over a warm piece of pie?

What is a quintessential comfort food to you? My guess is that it’s quite a bit different from mine.

If we look to the books, comfort food, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “food prepared in a traditional style having a usually nostalgic or sentimental appeal.” While this definition certainly isn’t wrong, it doesn’t seem to encompass all that comfort food can be and what it can make us feel when we eat it, cook it, and share it. Since comfort food means something different to everyone, to get even a fraction of the whole picture, we’re asking you, our global community, to share your stories alongside us this month. Let’s get the conversation started in the comments below: What’s your go-to comfort food and why?

We’ll be publishing tons of new recipes, from classic German takes on global favorites (think rice pudding, apple pie, and pancakes) to Korean soft tofu stew, a new, creamy potato soup to a seasonal variation on the aforementioned lasagna, and much more. Save and revisit this article throughout the month, we’ll be linking our latest recipes and stories below, and remember to follow us on Instagram for exclusive content.