Monday, June 17, 2013

Holiday Comfort Food

When I'm sad or depressed or super-hungry, I usually crave things like ice-cream, french bread and pizza.  That's counterproductive comfort food since eating is following by guilty feelings about indulging in unhealthy food.

Comfort food doesn't have to be unhealthy.  A week ago, my mom had my husband and I over for dinner.  She made several dishes including more traditional comfort food, but what I enjoyed the most was a pot of greenbeans with ham.  It tasted like the holidays to me, like Christmas dinner in a bowl.  It was just a couple cans of green beans boiled in chicken broth with canned, sliced mushrooms and some pre-cooked ham cut into chunks.  It almost should've been the least impressive item on the menu.  Somehow it was my favorite.  It conjured up memories of eating leftovers after unwrapping presents.  The flavor reminded me of how all the flavors of holiday food kind of become one warm, peaceful flavor.  It was comforting.

My mom gave me the leftovers to take home, and they sat in the refrigerator until tonight.  Somehow it didn't seem tempting when there were more "delicious" things in my refrigerator to eat.  Then tonight, wanting something quick, I remembered the "holiday comfort food" feeling the greenbean and ham mixture gave me the first time I ate it.  That's what I needed tonight.  And, there's no guilt afterwards.  It was delicious.  It tasted like Christmas after the presents are unwrapped.  I can almost hear laughter and holiday movies.  It makes me remember happy times.

I pretty much inhaled the leftovers without stopping to take pictures, but it really is just a couple cans of green beans boiled in chicken broth in a pot on the stove.  Add some canned mushrooms and pre-cooked ham cut into chunks.  Add your favorite seasoning (for me it's TexJoy).  Except for the sodium content, this is a healthy side dish or even a main meal.  It'd be excellent served on top of mashed potatoes!

Happy eating!

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