Comfort Food (Yum)

[hanca]

Another "cultural difference".
For me, it also depends on what accompanies the salad.

I am not sure if this is cultural difference. I think it is simply a matter of taste. The same way as some people prefer sweet and others savoury, regardless of their cultural background.

 

[Cachoo]

I am just now realizing how much I equate comfort food with chilly weather. As children we thought breakfast for supper was great particularly French Toast.

 

[Susan1]

LOL. I think the mayo/Miracle Whip is really a personal thing. My husband and I both grew up in "Miracle Whip households," in which Miracle Whip was the only creamy condiment available. I always disliked it & converted to mayo when exposed to it in college. My husband, OTOH, still prefers Miracle Whip to this day and won't eat mayo.

What is the difference? We always had Miracle Whip at home, but I suppose they use mayo in restaurants or wherever. Mayo is yellower? Is it eggier? I have some little packets of mayo that came with things, but I'm not going to buy a whole jar of Miracle Whip to do a taste test.

 

[Susan1]

What is the difference? We always had Miracle Whip at home, but I suppose they use mayo in restaurants or wherever. Mayo is yellower? Is it eggier? I have some little packets of mayo that came with things, but I'm not going to buy a whole jar of Miracle Whip to do a taste test.

o.k. - Miracle Whip is not as oily as mayo and it's sweeter?

Kraft Mayo - Soybean Oil, Water, Eggs, Egg Yolks, Vinegar, Contains Less than 2% of Sugar, Salt, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Calcium Disodium EDTA as a Preservative, Dried Garlic, Dried Onions, Spice, Natural Flavor.

Kraft Miracle Whip - mustard flour, water, soybean oil, paprika, high fructose corn syrup, eggs, vinegar, modified cornstarch, salt, natural flavor, dried garlic, the preservative potassium sorbate, and spice.

Why Miracle Whip isn’t mayo: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that anything labeled "mayonnaise" contain a minimum of 65 percent vegetable oil by weight. And though Kraft keeps Miracle Whip’s exact oil content a secret, the company confirms that it is too low to meet the mayo standard.

What makes it different: While it contains mayo’s key ingredients (egg, soybean oil, vinegar, water), Miracle Whip sets itself apart with a sweet, spicy flavor that some folks prefer. First introduced during the Depression, when its cheaper price made it alluring to people who couldn’t afford more highfalutin mayo, it’s now caught up, costing about the same amount per ounce as the real thing.

 

[skatesindreams]

What is the difference?

Miracle Whip is much sweeter; and has what I can only describe as an "aftertaste" , which I find unpleasant.

Commercial mayonnaise varies, according to the brand.
Some are "eggier" than others.
When I use mayonnaise (not that often) I prefer Hellmann's.
It has a hint of horseradish.

 

[Susan1]

Miracle Whip is much sweeter; and has what I can only describe as an "aftertaste" , which I find unpleasant.

Commercial mayonnaise varies, according to the brand.
Some are "eggier" than others.

Yeah, see my reply to my own post. And then I was thinking that I remember having Hellmann's mayo.
Same-ish ingredients (more eggy ) -
soybean oil, water, whole eggs and egg yolks, vinegar, salt, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, calcium disodium edta (used to protect quality), natural flavors.

I can imagine my mom saying that we could afford real mayonnaise (they grew up in the depression), but my dad liking the sweeter Miracle Whip. I don't know why we would have needed both. They would have only been used on BLTs or bologna and cheese sandwiches (maybe for my school lunches). Both probably went bad before we could use them up.

 

[SkateSand]

I tried really, really hard to develop a taste for mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip, but, unfortunately, the child indoctrination was 100% successful. I do not like the taste of real mayonnaise at all so I must continue to use Miracle Whip on sandwiches.

 

[moebius]

I wonder what brand of mayo is used in seafood salad. It's really creamy and taste fatty, and not sweet and not tangy. Yum.

 

[ilovepaydays]

That's exactly how I feel about potato salad and cole slaw. Cold potatoes and cold cabbage are NOT what's up!!!

Once you have eaten potato salad with roasted potatoes instead of boiled potatoes, you will never go back. Trust me on this.

 

[paskatefan]

Not a fan of mayo @ all. I only use it for tuna fish, but since someone suggested using horseradish sauce instead, that's what I've been using to keep it together. I prefer the taste of the horseradish sauce, anyway, so it's all good.

 

[MsZem]

I tried really, really hard to develop a taste for mayonnaise instead of Miracle Whip, but, unfortunately, the child indoctrination was 100% successful. I do not like the taste of real mayonnaise at all so I must continue to use Miracle Whip on sandwiches.

You know you're allowed to make sandwiches with neither of these things, right?

 

[Susan1]

Not a fan of mayo @ all. I only use it for tuna fish, but since someone suggested using horseradish sauce instead, that's what I've been using to keep it together. I prefer the taste of the horseradish sauce, anyway, so it's all good.

Did you see my post about using Kraft sandwich spread?
Ingredients - water, vinegar, sugar, soybean oil, chopped pickles, modified food starch, contains less than 2% of salt, eggs, natural flavor, mustard flour, red bell peppers, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate and calcium disodium edta (as preservatives), spice, paprika, garlic, onions, turmeric.
I don't know where my mom got the idea, but that's what she always used and then so did I - creamy and tangy.

Sidebar on horseradish sauce - my aunt used to make deviled eggs with Aunt Nellie's Old Style Sauce that had horseradish in it (the only place I ever saw it was Kroger) and Underwood deviled ham (clever, huh?). That's the only way I could ever touch horseradish. Then I made them for a couple of Easter family gatherings and also for myself in between. I couldn't find any Aunt Nellie's a few years ago.

 

[SkateSand]

You know you're allowed to make sandwiches with neither of these things, right?

I like the taste even though I know I shouldn't.

 

[Cachoo]

Did you see my post about using Kraft sandwich spread?
Ingredients - water, vinegar, sugar, soybean oil, chopped pickles, modified food starch, contains less than 2% of salt, eggs, natural flavor, mustard flour, red bell peppers, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate and calcium disodium edta (as preservatives), spice, paprika, garlic, onions, turmeric.
I don't know where my mom got the idea, but that's what she always used and then so did I - creamy and tangy.

Sidebar on horseradish sauce - my aunt used to make deviled eggs with Aunt Nellie's Old Style Sauce that had horseradish in it (the only place I ever saw it was Kroger) and Underwood deviled ham (clever, huh?). That's the only way I could ever touch horseradish. Then I made them for a couple of Easter family gatherings and also for myself in between. I couldn't find any Aunt Nellie's a few years ago.

An Aunt Nellie's reference!! Our family loved her corn relish particularly for picnics and BBQ's. It's been quite some time since I've seen it around here.

 

[oleada]

Mayo is mostly pretty goss, IMO Sandwiches taste better with mustard IMO.

 

[Japanfan]

That's exactly how I feel about potato salad and cole slaw. Cold potatoes and cold cabbage are NOT what's up!!!

You forget to say IMHO.

I potato salad. I not add chopped hard-boiled eggs and mayo, but also sharp cheddar, chopped garlic, fresh ground pepper, and a touch of Dijon mustard. It is truly yummy. If one is a meat eater, it pairs beautifully with ham.

I like coleslaw too, but not so much as potato salad. And it needs to be really creamy.

 

[MsZem]

In a thread about people's preferred comfort foods, it's pretty clear that everything except ingredient lists is people's opinion, humble or otherwise.

Mayo is mostly pretty goss, IMO Sandwiches taste better with mustard IMO.

I don't like sandwiches and never did. If the bread is good enough, less is more; if it's not good, why eat it?

 

[Japanfan]

I don't like sandwiches and never did. If the bread is good enough, less is more; if it's not good, why eat it?

You need to define what 'good' bread is, though. If one is a connoisseur of bread, then one is going to want a fresh baguette or sourdough loaf, or something similar. Sliced white or whole wheat bread just won't do it.

I enjoy a fresh baguette as much as anyone else. We do buy them once a while, but we are only two in this household, and we don't eat that much bread. A neighbor keeps dropping fresh baked loaves on our doorstop, and Mr. Japanfan inevitably ends up taking them to his workplace, because we can't eat them. The neighbor drops them incognito and it's a generous, kind gesture. But I wish I would catch him in the act one day so I could thank him and ask him to please stop, as those loaves pile up in our freezer and it does not feel right to trash them.

Slicing up and freezing a baguette for sandwiches would be a lot of work and baguettes don't quite work for sandwiches because the slices are so small compared to a regular loaf of bread. Though baguettes are perfect for dipping!

I don't care for frozen/thawed bread at all, so if I want to make a sandwich, I always toast the bread I've got in the freezer first. It works perfectly to eliminate the stale quality/taste.

 

[MsZem]

You need to define what 'good' bread is, though. If one is a connoisseur of bread, then one is going to want a fresh baguette or sourdough loaf, or something similar. Sliced white or whole wheat bread just won't do it.

Exactly.

 

[cocotaffy]

Shepard's pie British style (better than the French one), tangy green coconut curry. For breakfast, bacon and eggs, scones (love those) but also the French classic of a great baguette with excellent butter.

 

[flyingsit]

Freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies are my ultimate comfort food.

 

[antmanb]

This thread is worse than the book thread. At least in the book thread only my wallet takes a battering, in this thread it's my wallet and my waistline

 

[taf2002]

When I'm sick or super tired only Campbell's Tomato soup will do. It's the ultimate comfort food for me especially with Ritz crackers. If I'm too hungry for just soup then a grilled cheese sandwich pairs nicely. I love tuna salad made with albacore but I hate tuna made any other way. Tuna casserole is the worst.

 

[Lizziebeth]

I was watching "A Chef's Life" and Chef Vivian was going to a book signing for cookbook author and "Southern food storyteller" Sheri Castle who said that casseroles serve a purpose of feeding the "hungry and heartbroken."
The guests were served a chicken poppyseed casserole which was warm and creamy with chicken, vegetables with a crunchy topping. Yum. Some of my favorite cookbooks are really just binders full of recipes put together by church ladies.
By the way is the term "hot dish" a casserole in Minnesota?

Absolutely 'hotdish' is a casserole! I have a collection of old cookbooks from my part of NE Minnesota. Some date from the 1930s. It is fascinating to look at the favorite hotdishes from bygone eras.

 

[Susan1]

Freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies are my ultimate comfort food.

Thanks a lot. You made me buy brownie filled Chips Ahoy cookies.

 

[MsZem]

This thread is worse than the book thread. At least in the book thread only my wallet takes a battering, in this thread it's my wallet and my waistline

From reading about mayo?! I thought you had access to better food than that

Thanks a lot. You made me buy brownie filled Chips Ahoy cookies.

You cannot blame flyingsit, who specifically mentioned freshly-baked cookies.

 

[Susan1]

You cannot blame flyingsit, who specifically mentioned freshly-baked cookies.

It was the "chocolate chip" part that sent me down the cookie aisle. I do stick them in the microwave for a few seconds when it's cold out. ha ha

 

[Cachoo]

Absolutely 'hotdish' is a casserole! I have a collection of old cookbooks from my part of NE Minnesota. Some date from the 1930s. It is fascinating to look at the favorite hotdishes from bygone eras.

I didn't know of the term until I saw a clip of a contest between Senators from Minnesota and Michigan. I loved the idea of a comfort food contest in D.C. It feels very Lake Wobegon to me. And old cookbooks are so interesting.

btw those Netflix devils: They are releasing The Great British Baking Show (7th season) one episode per week. I wanted to binge....

 

[Susan1]

I didn't know of the term until I saw a clip of a contest between Senators from Minnesota and Michigan. I loved the idea of a comfort food contest in D.C. It feels very Lake Wobegon to me. And old cookbooks are so interesting.

btw those Netflix devils: They are releasing The Great British Baking Show (7th season) one episode per week. I wanted to binge....

I was reading a cozy mystery set in Minnesota or something and they mentioned the tater tot "hot dish". Except we always made ours with Golden Mushroom soup - not Cream of - makes it not as slimy. My mom made that for my birthday every year. We didn't get to have it much because my dad didn't like mushrooms. I've tried to make a half portion just for myself, but I can't eat all that by myself. My aunt used to melt cheese on leftovers the next day, but I just couldn't do it.
This thread makes me hungry.

 

[Cachoo]

I was reading a cozy mystery set in Minnesota or something and they mentioned the tater tot "hot dish". Except we always made ours with Golden Mushroom soup - not Cream of - makes it not as slimy. My mom made that for my birthday every year. We didn't get to have it much because my dad didn't like mushrooms. I've tried to make a half portion just for myself, but I can't eat all that by myself. My aunt used to melt cheese on leftovers the next day, but I just couldn't do it.
This thread makes me hungry.

We need single serving casseroles. I suppose we could use ramekins. I've always thought of comfort food as homemade but I do have to admit I fell for Sam's Choice Mexican Lasagna and of course it was discontinued. There are plenty of recipes though.