Whether or not we are aware of it at the time, the food we grow up with plays an important role in the way we will view that food in the future. By way of illustration: when I was in boarding school, we were only allowed home for two weekends in the term. Heartily tired of hostel food by then, my brother would request beef curry and rice, and I always asked my mother for macaroni cheese ‘with lots of cheese’.
Travel can open our tastebuds to new experiences too. I grew up with curry and hot spices, so could empathise with friends who loved tasting local dishes during their trip through India. We were later treated by them to flavours from India for a while afterwards.
The comfort of home cooking returns though after a long absence; when we are feeling ‘world weary’; or simply long for the (unappreciated at the time) security of our youth. Several people who have made a name for themselves in the cooking world are happy to tell of how much they learned from their mothers or grandmothers from an early age. In their cases the comfort of home cooking extended into a career.
One of my sons loved my mother’s cottage pie so much that he once asked her to make it for our Christmas dinner while she visited us. To our great amusement, she did! My youngest granddaughter enjoys my home-made tomato soup, while her brother likes the way I make macaroni cheese. Another of my sons is partial to the bacon, pea and feta salad I prepare …
Christmas used to be very simple in terms of catering – sometimes (given how hot it can be in the southern hemisphere) we would have an array of cold meats and salads. As each of my children graduated from university, went out into the world, and returned with hearty, sophisticated appetites, so their requests became more specific.
I generally over cater anyway, so am happy to accept requests from whoever will be joining us for Christmas dinner. This way everyone has something that makes the celebratory meal special for them – all agree that we can never make too many roasted potatoes!
‘Home comforts’ consist of a lot more than a bed or a comfortable place to sit: food plays an important part in lifting our spirits, sparking off happy memories, as well as helping everyone sitting around the table to feel ‘at home’.
This has been a favourite ‘celebratory’ recipe for some years now:
Something Over Tea 