Everyone has their own definition of comfort food. You know, that gastronomic equivalent of a hug....or a warm fuzzy blanket...or the feeling of home.
I make fried chicken and mashed potatoes for my family....or maccaroni and cheese...or meatloaf. My husband thinks meatloaf = comfort.
But my personal favorite comfort food, nobody eats but me in my house. It's pasta fagioli (i pronounce this pasta fa-zool ala my mother's pronunciation), which translates to pasta and beans.
Pasta fagioli is a traditional italian peasant dish. It's made with elbow (or any of the smaller noodles, and often you see this dish with mixed noodle types ...the idea is whatever you have leftover, throw in the pot in terms of noodles.)
Normally you use white cannelini beans, but i also mix in chick peas (garbonzo beans/ceci beans) and even navy beans.
You mix the pasta and beans in a tomato sauce (base: olive oil, onion, garlic, etc) and you're all ready to eat.
I don't usually make this dish for myself. But my mother will make a batch and send some to my house and my sister's house. She knows we both love it, and she knows it's a treat.
So, that's my favorite comfort food.
With maybe some rice pudding for dessert.
What's your favorite?
