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The Comfort Foods That Always Bring Me Back to Centre

The Comfort Foods That Always Bring Me Back to Centre

Life can pull us in so many directions; busy weeks, unexpected changes, or those days when nothing seems to go right. When I need to feel balanced again, I find myself turning to certain comfort foods. They don’t just nourish my body, they settle my mind.

Here are a few of the dishes that always bring me back to centre, with simple recipes you can try at home.

 

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

The ultimate hug on a plate. Fluffy, buttery mash has a way of making everything feel lighter.

Ingredients (serves 4):

  • 1 kg floury potatoes (Maris Piper or King Edward), peeled and quartered

  • 75 g unsalted butter

  • 100 ml whole milk (warmed)

  • Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Method:

  1. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes, until tender.

  2. Drain well, then return to the pan over a very low heat for 1-2 minutes to steam dry.

  3. Mash with the butter, then gradually stir in the warm milk.

  4. Season generously and serve.

Slow-Cooked Tomato Soup

The smell alone is enough to soothe the soul - rich, tangy, and a little sweet.

Ingredients (serves 4):

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • 1 onion, finely chopped

  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed

  • 2 x 400 g tins chopped tomatoes

  • 300 ml vegetable stock

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 50 ml double cream (optional)

  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and gently cook the onion for 8 minutes until soft.

  2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

  3. Stir in the tomatoes, stock, and sugar. Simmer for 25 minutes.

  4. Blend until smooth, then stir in the cream if using. Season to taste.

Bread and Butter Pudding

A nostalgic pudding that feels like a blanket for the heart.

Ingredients (serves 6):

  • 8 slices of day-old white bread, buttered

  • 75 g sultanas

  • 500 ml whole milk

  • 100 ml double cream

  • 3 medium eggs

  • 50 g caster sugar

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • Pinch of nutmeg

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).

  2. Layer the buttered bread in a baking dish, scattering sultanas between layers.

  3. Whisk together milk, cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla.

  4. Pour over the bread, pressing down lightly. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

  5. Leave to soak for 20 minutes, then bake for 35-40 minutes until golden and just set.

Sausage and Mash with Onion Gravy

A simple plate, but so grounding.

Ingredients (serves 4):

  • 8 good-quality pork sausages

  • 1 tbsp olive oil

  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced

  • 1 tsp sugar

  • 2 tbsp plain flour

  • 500 ml beef stock

  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

  • Mashed potatoes (see recipe above)

Method:

  1. Grill or roast the sausages until browned and cooked through.

  2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan, add onions and sugar, and cook gently for 15-20 minutes until caramelised.

  3. Stir in the flour, then slowly whisk in stock and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer until thickened.

  4. Serve sausages with mash and gravy poured over.

For me, comfort food is less about indulgence and more about grounding. These dishes remind me to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the simple things. The act of cooking itself; chopping, stirring, waiting, is often as healing as the first bite.