You know those days where not even T. Swift’s “Shake It Off” can turn your day around? They’re the worst. You’re feeling so blah that even a trip to the gym (endorphins!) sounds unappealing, and you finally understand what Holly Golightly meant by the mean reds. Watching your favorite show on Netflix might help, but what happens if the Wi-Fi goes down? The horror! If you’re lucky enough to have a steady group of girlfriends, or even just one amazing friend, willing to drop everything and be there to hear you out no matter what, you’re one lucky lady. Regardless, there’s one thing that will always be there to comfort you when you need it most, and that’s food. In no way are we recommending binge eating that jar of cookie butter you have in the back of your cabinet, despite its allure. Most of the time, we suggest adhering to Jim Rohn’s quote: “Nourish the mind like you would your body. The mind cannot survive on junk food.” But, as I’m sure even Rohn can attest to, sometimes the mind and body just need some comfort food. Here are our top five favorites:
1. Spaghetti Alla Carbonara – Consuming Italian food when you’re feeling down is the equivalent of a cute Italian grandma singing “Mambo Italiano” to you while giving you a firm hug. Also, carbs never count when you’re consuming them for all-intensive comfort-inducing purposes.
2. Matzo Ball Soup – This dish isn’t called “Jewish Penicillin” just because. Whether you’re fighting off a real cold or just feeling that way internally, a bowl of this should do the trick and warm you right up.
3. Macaroni and Cheese – This is a no brainer. Pasta and cheese? A match made in heaven. Emeril does not mess around with this recipe, and just the smell of melting cheese wafting through your kitchen should be enough to turn your frown upside down.
4. Elvis Presley’s Friend Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich – Don’t knock it until you try it. This combination is as weird as it is cool, just like The King himself. You may get weird looks from your roommates, but it’ll be a short amount of time before they realize what they’re missing out on and join in on the PB&B party.
5. Magnolia Bakery’s Banana Pudding – I don’t think anyone willingly sought out a dessert with bananas before the famous NYC-based Magnolia Bakery introduced this one to the world. Few words can do this pudding justice, but “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” comes pretty close.
Related Articles
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/6-things-italian-women-teach-us…
- http://www.southernliving.com/food/classic-comfort-food-recipes
*Photos: Model Crystal Renn posing for photographer Terry Richardson (via Tumblr)