What is it about comfort food that really
appeals to us? We just love the whole idea of it. It appeals to our
sentiments and makes us soft and nostalgic.
Sometimes it reminds us of
home. Sometimes it makes us feel like a child again. And sometimes it
makes us feel better on a bad day. The thing is, humans build powerful
relationships between sights, smells, sounds, textures… and memories. We
build mental relationships, connecting things that we relate in ways
that are meaningful to us.
That scent of aam panna that takes us
back to summery childhood days. We can actually scrunch up our eyes,
taste it so vividly; a melange of flavours that reminds us of leafy
verandas and vacation time.
Or maybe a warm bowl of mac and cheese. A
simple meal, but it is one that sends our senses into overdrive. The
gooey yellow cheese, the perfectly baked macaroni, the simple homely
flavours! Just writing about it reminds me of the hearty meal that makes
you feel so happy and warm, and cheers you up a little bit.
A warm meal
on a cold night, curled up in a cozy sweater with a favourite book –
can you think of anything nicer than that?
Or a bowl of piping hot sambar? Not as a
accompaniment, but just that. You can just drink up a bowl or two; and
when you’re sniffling from cold, the sambar makes it disappear right
away. With its potent combination of herbs, spices, and hot peppercorns;
this is something that warms up not just your body, but your soul as
well.
Or maybe mom-made rajma chawal. Isn’t
that the best? Immediate hunger pang relief. You know you’ve searched
for the best rajma everywhere, but nothing is as good as the secret
recipe that your granny passed on to you. It’s a combination of spices
and love, and nothing can beat that.
Talking about home food, how about
pickle? Imagine you are in a new city, adjusting to the life and pace
and food and habits. You come back to the lonely rented flat you call
home now. Open up a cupboard in the kitchen that has a jar of pickle and
nothing else. Mom lovingly packed up a couple of jars for you to take.
You open the jar, scoop out some pickle, eat it with some leftover roti,
and somehow, surprisingly, you are strangely content. It feels like
home, or mom’s warm hug. You go to sleep happy.
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