Friday, April 15, 2011

Finding comfort

As the weather cools, the darkness comes earlier, the bush changes colour and the rain falls, I find myself turning to comfort food.

It's lucky, then, that these days my idea of comfort is vastly different to what it used to be.

In previous years, I've turned to chocolate and cakes and takeaway as my comfort. Now, I'm turning to...



Freshly baked Hot Cross Buns. Turns out the overtly sweet and dense buns in the shops are not how HCBs are meant to be, and discovering the joy of a light, fluffy, truly fresh HCB is something I'm loving. (And the crosses aren't those boring ones made of water and flour - these are made from fresh, buttery pastry. Oh yes.)


Homemade soups and stews - warmth from the inside out, this is the ultimate comfort food for me right now.


A steaming cup of tea - I don't enjoy standard tea or coffee, and rarely indulge in a hot chocolate these days, but a hot cup of peppermint tea is warming and relaxing, and appeals to all the senses.

Plus... a book to reread. Because I don't have a great memory, I can reread books again and again. And again. And still wonder what happens at the end. But picking up a book that I've read before is such a comfort, knowing it will be easy and relatively non-suspenseful.

What do you take comfort in during the cooler months?
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18 comments:

  1. Kelly MortonApril 15, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Mmm your post makes me want to snuggle on the lounge with a book and a cuppa! Im all about hot showers, piping hot cups of tea and warm and fuzzy pjs :)

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  2. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 9:26 AM

    Oh Megan if it would only turn cooler over here! THEN I could really enjoy a hot cross bun or a stew. But the sweat pouring off me while making or eating it kind of detracts from it all ;) Tell you what, can I come and stay with you?

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  3. Princess KateApril 15, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    It's such a lovely excuse to have a hot cuppa, isn't it? Chamomile with honey is my treat and cake, any cake, to go with it...

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  4. JaneApril 15, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    Ohh this post just reminded me why I love winter so much. It's also made me really hungry! I've never really been one to indulge in takeaway or overly fatty treats as comfort food, except for chocolate :)

    For me, it's definitely all about tea, hot cross buns (YUM!) and homemade vegetable soup. I actually just started making a pot of soup before I read this post!

    xxx

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  5. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM

    So many people love comfort food. We keep updating recipes at our business to please everyone. Casseroles with Chicken, gravy, potatoes. white sauce all get the best reviews. My favorite one is something called a Meatloaf Potato Bake.

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  6. UnknownApril 15, 2011 at 11:47 AM

    I must be hungry, because your post has my tummy grumbling at those pictures of hot cross buns, stew and tea. And what's better than a memory that has you wondering what happened again, and again! Bring on winter, I say, and curl up with a good (pre-read) book. xx

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  7. Romantic Flair OriginalApril 15, 2011 at 1:31 PM

    I cannot agree more....this is my type of food! xxx

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  8. AnonymousApril 15, 2011 at 1:43 PM

    Poor Sarah in Perth! Sending some cool autumnal weather her way.
    And Megan, this post had me all comfy-cosy right up until you said you like reading books that are 'relatively non-suspenseful'. Some might say you're taking the comfort factor a little too far. It's very endearing, it gave me a giggle.
    Lovely post.

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  9. FrancescaApril 15, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Cardigans. I love them. Warm, cosy and, if you buy well, can even look OK too - they hide all the messy bits.

    Oh, and much comfort in baking bread during the colder months.

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  10. CHECKS AND SPOTSApril 15, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    As soon as the weather turns, I become a little obsessed with cooking soups and slow cooked casseroles. Anything to warm my bones!

    PS: I think you'd love the jewelry giveaway I'm currently running! If you have a moment, stop by...
    http://checksandspots.com/check-it-out/giveaway-giveaway/

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  11. Jodie AnstedApril 15, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    Honey, I just took COMPLETE advantage of Borders closing their doors and bought myself some new books today. Like I need any...pffft. Have such a pile..but the cooler weather and rain outside makes me want to read more.

    And tea...love a good cuppa on a cool day. (And Hubby loves my stews!)

    xxx

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  12. RiverApril 15, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    I love the comforts of homemade soups and casseroles too; ugg boots as slippers, fluffy dressing gowns over flannelette pyjamas, snuggling under a doona to watch TV or read in bed.

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  13. RiverApril 15, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    P.S. where did you get those lovely non-stodgy hot cross buns?

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  14. RichieApril 15, 2011 at 11:23 PM

    Thinking out loud...

    Want to live to your 90's???

    Eat fruits and leaves !!!

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  15. Megan BlandfordApril 16, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    River - they're in Rachel Allen's book, BAKE. Awesome cookbook!

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  16. Kim (frog ponds rock)April 16, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    Every Easter my Mum used to bake Hot Cross Buns. She used fresh yeast and they were delicious. I have lived with a temporary kitchen for the past 20 years and don't have a proper oven. Finally this year my slow combustion stove is about to be hooked up and I can bake again.

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  17. InkPaperPenApril 17, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    i eat sooo many hot cross buns at easter time, i love them even more than chocolate, it is all that hot melted butter dripping all over them...I have never baked them self though

    And like Sarah said, it really is too hot in WA right now to enjoy stews yet - but that hasn't stopped me with the easter buns, obviously!

    Gill xo

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  18. CarolJune 5, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    My kids, they fight over bread and most baked stuff!

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