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What is your crisis/stress comfort food?

What do you eat when the week has been too long, you are tired and stressed, and you need to eat xxxx right now or you'll bang your head against a wall? Mine is chocolate....and no nouvelle flavors, like with bacon or lavender added. Just give it to me straight, please and no one will get hurt.

I've been working long days on a project, thru the weekend, eating lunch and dinner (usually a sandwich) at my desk every day. Today I really needed a chocolate fix and luckily there were some dessert samples left over from a tasting. Chocolate mousse to the rescue! I feel SO much better. My hips won't thank me and I expect my pants to be a bit tighter tomorrow but right now I do. not. care.

What does it for you, hounds? Sweet, savory, spicy...do tell!

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  1. Potato Chips. I used to eat a small bag a day...minimum. Now I try not to eat them, but when stress is in the air, I need my chips. If things are really getting me down....onion dip or con queso is added to the mix

    1. Kraft mac & cheese, blue box, the whole box (which by the way is WAY smaller than it was in the '70s when I discovered it), only a small pat of butter instead of a half a stick.
      Shrimp cocktail, with genuine Guaymas shrimp (or an oceanic equivalent
      A pound of big fat red cherries in season (despite some diarrhea the next day)
      Freshly made tortilla chips, with freshly made salsa, preferably a green with some tomatillos
      An Original Drumstick ice cream cone
      A Dove Bar, dark chocolate, vanilla ice cream is the only way
      linguine with a little truffle oil and a healthy grating of good parmigiana and pepper
      A perfect little champagne mango, even though they're a pain to prepare compared to a peach
      A couple of ounces of good tequila (depending on the circumstances and time of day)

      2 Replies
      1. re: EWSflash

        I do the mac & cheese thing, but instead of adding milk, I just increase the butter.

      2. Chocolate
        Potato chips
        Feta doused in EVOO and herbs with a piece of naan
        Peanut butter
        Anything dipped in kewpie mayo and sriracha

        1 Reply
        1. re: Chi_Guy

          I have never eaten feta as food unto itself. I wonder why not.

        2. Pasta (thick spaghetti or rigatoni preferably) with butter (Kerrygold preferably) and grated cheese (Pecorino Romano preferably).

          8 Replies
          1. re: Rilke

            Sounds perfect. Maybe add some garlic salt.

            Something with sour cream

            1. re: Ruth Lafler

              I was taught to always salt the pasta water, never the finished dish, but I love garlic salt and will consider it an exception :-) Going to try it next time.

              1. re: Rilke

                Hello there. You didn't ask, but may I suggest...please not garlic salt. Pecorino Romano (my cheese of choice, too) is plenty salty...if you want to notch it up, fresh garlic tossed around the pan with the butter will do ya right. Fondly, your little Italian-American friend. :)

                ETA: The garlic in butter idea comes from this delicious recipe from Julia della Croce, so if you'd like to go all out with eggs and parsley, here is more info:

                It is what brings YOU comfort, so dowutchalike, by all means.

                1. re: kattyeyes

                  Well, I would have subbed out the cheese . . . but I also love egg yolks with pasta, so that recipe is also something I want to try . . .

                  Good thing I like pasta so much ;-)

                  1. re: Rilke

                    You will love it. It's an old favorite of mine. And with you on the cheese--I never have parm in the house! :) And if you really want to take it to an extreme comfort level, think about getting crumbled sausage in on the action. I never tire of pasta, myself. :)

                  2. re: kattyeyes

                    I'm sure your way is better, but it's not "comfort food" to me, since it requires more cooking than boiling water.

                    1. re: Ruth Lafler

                      I think you're confusing "comfort food" with "convenience food." Ma's apple pie is certainly a comfort food, but not quick 'n dirty by any stretch. Certain comfort foods take time and love. Lucky for me, the nice people at Frito-Lay jam-pack each cheery orange bag of potato crisps with all of that, leaving me just a few other more labor-intensive options when I seek comfort in food form.

                      1. re: kattyeyes

                        As you noted before, it's different for different people. When I'm stressed, I don't want to deal with anything complicated. Thus convenience is an element of comfort food for me. Some people cook to relieve stress; I don't.

            2. A twiced baked potato

              Potato knish

              Potato pancakes

              Cheesy smashed potoates

              well you get the idea...I only eat potatoes when I'm feeling over loaded. Rather load up on taters.

              2 Replies
              1. re: HillJ

                Colcannon - ham pieces with cabbage, in creamy mashed potatoes. We've been low carb for a year and a half, and I;'m craving it. Dunno if I'll cave or not. I came from a rice eating southern family and learned to love potatoes after I married and had kids. I love 'em almost any way now, but, sigh, they're not low carb and really put the pounds on me. I allow myself some homefries with bacon & eggs occasionally, but would love spuds everyday.

                1. re: Nanzi

                  Oh, man, I love colcannon.. haven't had it in forever. Have you tried making it with mashed cauliflower? or even swapping half the potatoes for cauliflower? Might not fit the bill if you're super-craving the real deal, but it might be an okay substitute otherwise.