Over my nearly 35 years of being a priest I've been invited many times to dinner at parishioners' homes. I'm often asked, "What's your favorite meal? What would you like us to have?" And I've often replied, "Well, you probably won't make it for me, but what I'd really like would be grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup."
And I'm right: most folks won't serve this to you for dinner - even if it's what you asked for!
In 35 years I've only had that request honored three times, the last having been just this past week. It was a cold night and a little comfort food was just right! (Not that grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup are ever wrong!)
My hosts made their own tomato soup which I would describe as "Mmm Mmm VERY fine!" (Campbell Soup Kids: take a hike!) The grilled cheese were served just the way I like them, with a little relish cooked inside the sandwich, something I learned from a woman who cooked years ago at the rectory at St. Jerome Parish in Arlington where I worked as a seminary student.
I'm also happy to report that among my Christmas gifts was a George Foreman Grill and today's snow was the perfect setting for a GC&TS lunch and my first time "cooking with George." Awesome!
There's something about snow days and comfort food that's irresistible... Got any winter favorites?
love the new links
ReplyDeletewhat kind of relish???
ReplyDeleteHomemade mac and cheese, with sausage, lots of veggies, and a bechamel sauce with pepper jack...
ReplyDeletePotato-cheese-broccoli (or spinach) soup with crusty bread...
And chili!
Whenever there is a snowstorm and I'm stuck in the house, I bake brownies. My kids love them and unfortunately, I do too. There goes the New Years resolution!
ReplyDeleteI love cream of tomato soup made from Campbell's and grilled cheese sandwich (Arnold's white bread with Kraft American cheese.) No relish, nothing extra, just the way I had it growing up. And it is yum, yum good. I may have it for supper tonight!
ReplyDeleteI'm getting very hungry just reading the comments here!
ReplyDeleteThe relish is just regular picnic relish. I also like grilled cheese with slices of tomato and onion!
ReplyDeleteWhen our kids were at home and in school I LOVED snow days...when a storm was predicted I would buy all the supplies for a pot roast...(we usually never had pot roast on a weekday b/c I could never stay home long enough for it to roast!)...the kids always had grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch before going out to play in the snow and I always had hot chocolate with marshmallows warm and ready when they came in...THOSE were the days
ReplyDelete:-)
I like to sprinkle blue cheese in my cream of tomato soup. When that's not on hand, I'll use grated parmesan.
ReplyDeleteBut as for winter comfort food, I'd have to say hot chocolate made from powdered cocoa rather than the mix, and then with about half the sugar called for in the Hershey's recipe: warming, but not terribly sweet.
There's also nothing like fresh bread, especially my favorite version for this winter: kalacs, hungarian sweet bread with brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Todd
homemade (from Whole Foods) macaroni and cheese and vegetarian split pea soup.
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a grande, nonfat, no whipped cream cafe mocha (with only one pump of mocha) from Starbucks. This comfort food is my daily routine on my way to work. I think routines and comfort are important every day.
I thought my husband was the only one who likes relish (dill is his favorite)on his grill cheese sandwich!
ReplyDeleteAnne
Food seems to attract the most comments !!
ReplyDeleteI like to pppprrrryyy open the hot grilled cheese sandwich and put a spoon of cool relish inside! (please note: this is a skill) Somehow the hot and cold together are awesome!
ReplyDeleteBabies and food seem to be the most popular topics to comment on. Are we all just babies and young children yearning for the days when someone took care of us and fixed us tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, hot chocolate, etc.? My mother always had a snack for us when we got home from school. My favorite was cheese melted on Ritz crackers! Maybe it is not so much the food itself, but the love that went into serving it. Food for thought!
ReplyDeleteExtra crunchy Cheetos tossed into Campbell's Tomato soup is worthy of 5 stars!!
ReplyDeleteRegarding grilled cheese sandwiches...
ReplyDeleteMy mother used to tell the story about the time (when she was a teenager) she tried to impress a date by ordering "grilled cheese, on toast" when he took her out to lunch.
Peanut butter and jelly, with potato chips tucked inside! Mmm...
ReplyDeletePhillip's comment reminds me of a few years ago when my then-approximately four year old son ordered "A Grilled Cheese sandwich, but I don't want it toasted, and hold the cheese!"
ReplyDeleteConcord Pastor,
ReplyDeleteI love Grilled Cheese, too. It is my favorite food. In fact, I am eating it now, although I don't prefer anything inside my grilled cheese or with soup.