lEverybody needs an escape.
Welcome to WatchMojo.com,
and today we're counting down our picks
for the Top 10 Homemade Comfort Foods.
While it's easy to go out and buy something to eat,
there's something undeniably comforting
about food that comes from the familiar territory of your own kitchen.
Be it sweet or savory, it's all fantastic,
and it's all sure to leave us feeling satisfied,
nostalgic
and reminded of a simpler time.
The American Staple!
Like the hot dog,
a good burger conjures up images of rollerskating carhops,
dangerous hot rods,
and hot summer nights cruising the main drag.
It may even remind you of the good old days
when your dad would grill up a juicy patty at the summer cookout.
The simple beef hamburger has undergone constant reinvention,
but whether topped with gourmet ingredients
or good ol' cheese, pickles and ketchup,
whether fast food or slow grilled,
it's versatile, portable,
and will never go out of style!
A weekend favorite.
And what's not to like?
From the smell to the light, fluffy texture,
pancakes are the meal of choice for breakfast in bed.
Popular around the world in different forms,
with kids and adults alike,
griddlecakes are great topped with berries or whipped cream,
as thin crepes or thicker flapjacks,
and slathered in syrup.
There's no better way to start your day
than waking up at the crack of dawn,
eating a few stacks of pancakes,
and then sleeping for another six hours!
'You hungry?'
'Hey, ma! Could we get some meatloaf?'
Every grandma has a meatloaf recipe they're positive it's the best –
and chances are,
you agree.
A mixture of ground meat and spices –
often with a sweet sauce and some breadcrumbs thrown in –
this loaf-shaped meal
is the perfect dish to dig into
on a blustery winter's eve.
With its origins dating to the 5th century,
meatloaf gained popularity during the Great Depression
as a way to stretch the meat budget.
But that's not why we eat it now,
and it's certainly not why we go back for seconds, thirds,
and possibly fourths
(if nobody's looking.)
Ah, the humble potato!
This deceptively simple and inexpensive starch
can be prepared countless ways:
baked or stuffed,
fries or chips,
roasted or scalloped,
salad or tots.
But the tastiest tuber may be the all-mighty mashed potato –
available in pretty much any dinner and restaurant you'll ever find.
Everyone uses a different recipe for their mash –
some with cream, some with garlic,
some smooth, some with lumps –
but whatever the style,
it's like a warm, carb-loaded culinary blanket.
And unlike real blankets,
these go great with gravy!
Where would Italian cuisine be without nummy noodles?
Arguably one of the most versatile foods out there,
pasta is yours to customize
and place your own culinary stamp on!
Fresh or dried,
long or short,
fettuccini or rigatoni,
it's all delicious and full of comforting carbs –
and the potential preparations are even more miscellaneous.
Dig into lasagna,
cut into carbonara
or serve up spaghetti and meatballs,
just like nonna used to make.
All you gotta do is boil some noodles,
whip up some sauce,
bake some garlic bread
and you'll feel the comfort of fullness in no time!
'I like bacon.'
Need we say more?
You can eat it beside eggs,
throw it in a sandwich
or cover it in chocolate
and it's just as pork-tastic!
Sure it's unhealthy
but what's a little heart disease
compared to savory, crispy slices of perfectly fried bacon?
Cured pork, cut thin or thick,
this meat can perk up any meal,
or make any dish a winner with its salty flavor.
'You wanna know how good bacon is?'
'To improve other food, they wrap it in bacon.'
That's probably why "bacon mania" has gripped the Internet – and the world –
leading to bacon-covered and bacon-flavored everything.
All we can say is:
"Bring it on!"
Few things are simpler or more satisfying than the grilled cheese sandwich.
Bread + cheese + more bread
= snack-time nirvana.
Take meal time from drag to fab with some Swiss on rye –
and throw in some ham for the iconic deli taste.
French bread and Camembert add a certain je ne sais quai to déjeuner.
Or go traditional, with Wonder Bread™ and American cheese.
Add a bowl of tomato soup,
and you've got yourself a meal!
Another dish made popular during the Depression,
grilled cheese has come a long way since then!
The only way we know how to improve upon our number seven pick –
the mouth-watering mashed potato –
is to add meat and some select veggies
to make a casserole fit for a king!
Originally conceived as a way to use up leftover meat,
Sheperd's, or Cottage Pie, is a traditional Irish or English recipe
that's passed down from generation to generation.
Made with lamb or mutton in its native homeland,
or often beef in North America,
in the end it's all the same glorious concoction –
simple, hot and filling!
What snack sparks a more sentimental spirit than soup?
Whether with noodles or without,
Chicken Soup is a classic dish that'll warm anyone on a cold day,
with it's clear broth, chicken chunks and veggies.
But more than that,
this delicious dish has earned a rep as a healing elixir.
Sick with a cold or flu?
Boil up some chicken soup and let it work its mojo!
Sure, the health-hype surrounding the soup
could be no more than an old-fashioned folk tale,
but it sure tastes better than cough syrup,
and leaves you cozy and content.
Before we dig in to our top pick,
here are a few honorable mentions.
It's got all the hallmarks of a classic comfort food:
it's easy to make,
it leaves you feeling nostalgic for days gone by,
and it's got tons o' carbs!
Originating as far back as the 14th century,
you can bake it up traditionally as a casserole
with multiple cheeses and a breadcrumb crust,
or just pour the ingredients out of a box and into a saucepan.
Pasta drenched in a savory cheese
like cheddar, gruyère, Gouda, parmesan,
or better yet – Velveeta™,
mac and cheese is the kind of dish that will make any day better.
Do you agree with our list?
Which of these foods do you turn to for comfort and deliciousness?
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'Once you put bacon in a salad, is no longer a salad.'
'It just becomes a game of Find-the-Bacon-in-the-Lettuce.'
'It's like you're panning for gold:
Mmpf... Eureka!'