What are the foods that make one feel warm (in the emotional sense) and loved -- comforted? In the winter it's braised short ribs with rich mashed potatoes. Or chicken/vegetable soup with tiny star pasta. Comfort food is rich and filling, the very definition of 'savory.'
But what about summer comforts? Is it my mom's potato salad? Creamy cucumber yogurt soup? My friend Melinda Rice says, "Caprese salad, salsa made from fresh garden veggies and beer." I trust Melinda. On any given day, pizza is also a personal comfort food.
For me, last night, it was steak on the grill (oops, had to run out for charcoal), cucumber yogurt soup and a quinoa, chickpea, and grilled veg salad.
Here are rough instructions for the salad. The quinoa ratio is 2:1 water to quinoa. Bring water to a boil, simmer for 12 minutes. Take off heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Rinse in cold water, drain and use as needed. I added a can of rinsed garbanzo beans, and grilled asparagus, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, and crimini mushrooms. I dressed the salad in a dill/lemonette (lemon juice, dill and olive oil). Wow, was it delicious.
It would have been a great meal for two. But, alas, I'm mostly solo again. I still have the lovely and wonderful J-L in my life, but we're perpetual secondaries, not BF and GF in the primary sense.
No, the latest squeeze, Handsome & Brave, has met someone with whom he 'resonates,' so he's moved on. I wish him well.
And, just in case I need more comforting I have a triple batch of pizza dough, waiting for me in the cooler.
Mmmm, pizza.
kiss kiss--
Nancy
