There are many answers to the definition of comfort foods. There are as many variations to the answer as there are individuals who are asked the question. What makes something a comfort food while others are not? Is it related to diet or type of recipe? Is it related to ingredients?

Marie was a waitress at a French restaurant. She was asked what she thought of when I asked her what comfort foods were. After she put down a plate of garlic roasted Italian bread, parmesan cheese, and olive oil, she volunteered that oven-roasted chicken came to mind. That is what her grandmother served every Sunday evening when Susie was a child. Grandmother's Sunday chicken is what Susie thought of as a comfort food.

Familiarity is a word that is used to describe one's comfort level. This also applies to things that one eats. Foods that one recognizes, things that bring memories of family and home, are important characteristics of comfort foods. It is not the ingredients per se. It is the setting in which the food item is served. Family meals often are cited as part of the answer to the question of what are comfort foods.

comfort foods - Yahoo! News Search Results
comfort foods - Yahoo! News Search Results

Comfort foods reign on new menus
Trends may come and go, but at least in Milwaukee, a passion for comfort food endures. Big, hearty dishes are the stars on a range of new menus in local eateries.
Healthy, Hearty Comfort Food
MISSION, KS-- - During the short days and cold nights of winter, many of us crave comfort foods. Unfortunately, the rich dishes we usually think of tend to be low in nutrition and packed with fat and calories. ...
Comfort food at The Porch
The Porch is a local favorite for comfort foods like macaroni and cheese. After a scorching summer, it's not surprising that our Texas winter has been especially warm.
America's Best Comfort Foods
There are certain feel-good foods we universally reach for when we need to be comforted. A fragrant bowl of chicken soup. A dose of silky mashed potato. A 10-napkin serving of unctuous barbecue. Restaurant trends may come and go, but comfort foods are forever. Fortunately, America is awash with restaurants where the traditional never went out of style.
Giada?s winter comfort foods: Baked gnocchi, beef stew
If you?re looking for a little warmth on a chilly day, Giada De Laurentiis suggests these three recipes. Try Chianti marinated beef stew, chocolate cake tiramisu and more.
CRESALIA: Help children establish healthy eating habits
Children grow up with comfort foods like mac and cheese, hamburgers and chicken nuggets that are often paired with french fries and a sweet drink.
Craving comfort foods
We're in that in-between season time of year -- Christmas is now a fond memory, Valentine's Day is on the horizon and before you know it, Easter will be here. So will spring. While we wait, let's enjoy the moment with comfort dishes that will keep us company.
Is comfort food worth this much?
Is comfort food worth this much? Seattle Post-Intelligencer Copyright 2012 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:45 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2012
Find Comfort on a Cold Day at Cracker Barrel®
Winter?s remedy is as close as the nearest Cracker Barrel Old County Store®. Guests can warm up by a cracklin? fire with a hearty helping of classic and brand new comfort foods fro
Open & Shut: Veggie Grill's vegan comfort food comes to Beaverton
This week, a Beaverton location of the "fast casual" restaurant opened, serving 100 percent vegan American comfort foods like burgers, sandwiches and salads.