Today I want to talk about using food as comfort. I know we all do it. Let's just discuss this openly, shall we?
I have a friend who, when struggling through personal difficulties, pulls out a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Not the gourmet kind of mac and cheese. (By the way, I have a fabulous recipe for Mac and Cheese in a Flat Pan right here, but that's not important right now.) But the powdered orange cheese-food stuff that comes in a BOX, like no cheese ever should. It comforts her in a childlike way. I get that.
Although my tastes in comfort food tend to run in a different direction.
So, this past week you may have noticed if you tried to visit this site, that My Big, Fat, Cuban Family was MIA. Gone. Disappeared into the ether. Nothing but a white page and a sinister "site not found" notice. Wait. What?
It turns out that my lovely cyber-hosts, SAY Media and Typepad were the targets of cyber-terrorism and hundreds of other Typepad sites were down as well. If you're curious as to exactly what happened, you can read the entire article here at Tech-Crunch.
Because I'm Cuban, I blamed the communists. They were responsible for all the grief we ever knew when I was growing up. I've just continued that time-honored tradition. "Comunistas de mierda!"
Back to the comfort food thing…
We have been doing some interior painting and remodeling and our home is completely chaotic. You can read about all that here:
Where There is Life, There Will Be a Mess.
Last week, we celebrated Eric's birthday and then Easter weekend was coming and even though our house is still getting worked on and we didn't have our act together, we had so many plans!
We were going to be attending church and then my family was having a pool party/brunch thing at my niece's house. I was so looking forward to that. Celebrating and visiting and relaxing. All the things I excel at.
But then…I woke up achy, and feverish, and unfit to be with humans. Wait. What?
And then my site was down. Gone. Vanished. Wait. What? Nooooooo!
And my house is a crazy mess. (I can feel you weeping with me. Thank you.)
I was down for the count over Easter weekend, which I spent in my pj's moving from bed to couch to bed and back and barely able to pick up the remote. Did I mention we had tons of plans? I was not a happy camper.
I had no appetite, which is unusual for me, but once this achy, flu thing took hold, I was done.
My site was down. And I still felt so sick. And there was nothing I could do except follow Typepad's progress (a little obsessively) on Twitter. And wring my hands. And take my temperature. And feel sorry for myself. And complain impotently about the cyber-terrorists. Say it with me, louder this time, and with feeling:
"Comunistas de mierda!"
I despaired.
But of course, as some brilliant, but cheesy sage used to say, "Tough times don't last; Tough people do."
I fancy myself as a tough Cuban cookie.
It was right around the time I started feeling better that I also started craving Comfort Food. And no, I did not feel like cooking, thankyouverymuch.
So as soon as I was able, I managed to find a way to eat my feelings, Cuban-style.
(I'm not proud of this, and I totally shared, okay?) *ahem* A taste of yuca frita, croquetas, tamales, masitas de puerco, and papa rellena. And for the main event: Bistec de palomilla, black beans and white rice, and plantains. For dessert: cascos de guayaba with cream cheese.
I'm going to assume you all can relate to this whole "eating your feelings" thing, even if your comfort food is a bit different from mine. I admit my cravings tend to be much more elaborate than a bowl of Captain Crunch, but I can't help it. Black beans and plantains are part of my Cuban DNA.
Also, I don't usually eat cascos de guayaba con queso crema (guava shells with cream cheese) unless there's a serious disturbance in the force. And trust me, my force was disturbed.
My house is still a work in progress, but the mess is so much easier to deal with now that I'm feeling better and I ate dealt with my feelings.
So, what's your comfort food of choice? (It doesn't have to be Cuban.) What are your triggers?
Also, suck it, hackers! My Big, Fat, Cuban Family is BACK!
See? I'm feeling better already.
My feelings tend to look like Cajun food. Vats of jambalaya, etouffee, collards, and gumbo.I’m glad you’re back, although I knew it would take more than a DoS to keep you down.
First of all Marta, I feel your pain and am very sorry you had to go through it. Nicely said, this is probably the only time I was glad I am not you.OK, all that said, for me, comfort food depends on the situation and sometimes the time of year. Cold and dreary winter demand soup of some kind or Arroz con Pollo. Doldrums in the summer while things are tough at work demand hot dogs or grilled cheese sandwiches or Arroz con Pollo. Heavy duty legal problems demand either BBQ or Arroz con Pollo. Serious family issues demand picadillo or Arroz con Pollo.
The list goes on and on, and yes, maybe I have too many crises times, but there is always ONE thing you can fall back on, and unfortunately it is eluding me right now.
A good “fricase de pollo” makes life so much better and if it is cold a “sopa de pollo con viandas”, sometimes it does not have to be cold. I go back to my Cuban roots when things are not going right. I’ll drive 15 miles for a loaf of Cuban Bread and it taste so good. As I have grown older, I take comfort in my Cuban food, and have learned to appreciate and love it. Would not touch it as a kid, took it for granted in Miami and now go out of my way to find the ingredients to cook it.Hope you feel better.
Oooh, casquitos de guayaba. Que lastima and on Easter weekend. The flu and comunistas…que mierda! I tell you what, though. A good plate of Cuban love ails all illnesses. Para mi un buen potaje me alivia todo.
Glad you are feeling better, Marta. My “go to” comfort food is puree de malanga con aceite de oliva y aceitunas verdes.
Heather,That’s suck a Southern thing. I like it. xo
Ed,I wonder if arroz con pollo might help…?
Elsa,Isn’t that always the case? I appreciate so many more things now than I did when I was young. Maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. xo
Liza,Let me tell you, it’s a good thing I didn’t have a fresh loaf of Cuban bread and butter. Ya tu sabes!
Mercedes,I can taste the garlicky goodness! xo