The Comfort Food Cookbook

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

The first trait to recognize about comfort food is that everyone defines
it differently. Maybe it’s chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes, and
apple pie. Or perhaps tea-time dainties of the type that, in the 1950s,
were served to ladies in white gloves. For children, comfort food might
be pizza and chocolate chip cookies. Cultural background, family
traditions and lifestyle differences influence the definition. Whatever
the specifics, comfort foods are those that bring back memories, that
remind us of a time when we received nurturing and emotional support.

In assembling this collection of 115 recipes, Burkhard looked for
recipes that are easy to prepare, reliable, and satisfying. Most fit
into the “old favorites” category—stews, meat loaf, thick soups,
banana bread, shepherds pie, roast beef, macaroni and cheese. For
readers whose food memories are somewhat more upscale there’s comfort
to be had in artichoke phyllo triangles, baked Brie, stuffed sole, and
wild mushroom risotto. The nurturing needs of children and vegetarians
are also considered.

The recipes are accompanied by 14 color photos, lots of cheerful
comments, and kitchen tips, all of which add to the pleasure of browsing
through the book, looking for just the right inspiration ... or
consolation.