Double Delicious, by Jessica Seinfeld
I have professional crushes–and they’re always women. Leave the romantic crushes for the men. Professional crushes are women who do what I do, or something I wish I did, in a way that I find so tantalizing that I wish I did it too. Does that make sense? Jessica Seinfeld is one of my professional crushes. And I don’t have many. I’m not that kind of girl.
I was somewhat less interested in Jessica’s first book, Deceptively Delicious, in which she hid fruit and veggie purées in home cooked kids’ food, because I don’t have kids. But her second book, Double Delicious, is for me. Jessica writes healthed-up versions of comfort foods like Macaroni and Cheese, Black Bean Burgers, Shrimp Dumplings, and Sweet and Sour Meatballs. All using whole grains, lots of fruit and vegetables, and low fat dairy here and there. Her children, famed New York nutritionist Joy Bauer, and hilarious comedian husband Jerry all dot the book with their opinions on the different dishes. It’s great…like her website Do It Delicious, where she and friend Ally Wentworth make super easy grown up dishes for anyone who thinks they can’t cook.
I have a copy of the book! Just leave a comment with your favorite childhood comfort food. If you have come up with any ways to make it healthy, leave that too! I’ll choose a comment at random in a week, and the book is yours. Good luck!
This giveaway is now closed.
fantastic blog, have made many recipes with great success ~ and this book looks like fun to try!
One of my favorite comfort foods was always my mom’s version of Shepherd’s Pie. Being on a budget it was not at all like a true Shepherd’s Pie but that’s ok because I never cared for lamb much anyway. Simply put it was browned ground beef topped with canned or frozen corn then covered with mashed potatoes. My mom always sprinkled some grated Parmesan on top. When I make it now it’s similar but I like to use ground turkey in place of the ground beef and I’ll often mix up the veggies by using a combo of broccoli and cauliflower (frozen works great!) instead of the corn. Then I like to add grated cheddar to the mashed potatoes. Maybe sprinkle some smoked paprika on the top too.
Living in Europe (Paris, Geneva, Como) for the past 27 years, my favorite comfort food is a tunafish salad sandwich–canned tuna, heinz mayonnaise (or miracle whip from the US), chopped celery (stalks, not the round French celery), optional: some chopped red onion, a touch of sweet relish (from the US!). Good French baguette, sliced down the middle. Tomatoes and lettuce. Nothing takes me back home like this does!
an inspiration!
Comfort food for me is reeeally easy: pastina (those small butterfly-shaped noodles which are easily found in delis around the world) cooked in salted boiling water, seasoned with just a bit of butter and grated parmesan (or, even better, pecorino).
Was my childhood meal for sick days (Northern Italians can be pretty indulgent with butter, also on a sick stomach) and still remains heartwarming, and comforting. I wish they’d have it on hotel menus, really.
When I was little, on Fridays during Lent, Mom would make her version of spaghetti. She cooked the spaghetti, drained it and in the same pan she’d saute diced onion, bell pepper, usually some celery, then she’d re-add the spaghetti and all the various other leftover veggies from earlier in the week. To the pot, she’d add a can of diced tomatoes and various spices from the spice rack–a dab of this an a dab of that as she’d say. (Dad wasn’t Catholic so he’d get his own plate of the leftover meats. ) She served it in the big bowl that used to be Grandma’s, along with a a basket of hard Italian rolls. There was always a lot of sauce with it, so we’d sop up the extra with the rolls. I’ve never been able to duplicate it…
When my brothers and I came back from shoveling the driveway after a big snow, my mom made baloney sandwiches on white bread with a bit of mayo and cut them in quarters with a bowl hot tomato soup. What a way to warm up!
My favorite comfort food growing up were these things called “Corn Burgers”. Money was tight and so my mom made these to stretch a pound of ground meat. It really was quite tasty…it’s our take on sloppy joes, I suppose. Ground meat, tomatoes, tomato paste, corn, onion, and a splash or worchetershire. Yum!
Love your blog!
I’d have to say my favorite comfort food growing up would have been ice cream. Even today, a scoop will make a bad day seem less so….though I tend to opt for frozen yogurt or gelato more so nowadays. :). Xo
Hmm tough call… Is it weird that I grew up eating spaghetti and white clam sauce (from the can) once a week? Still a fav. And tuna salad. And mac and cheese with hot dogs cut up in it – even though I’m not really a hot dog fan. But it brings back childhood memories…
Macaroni and cheese is the childhood comfort food that immediately comes to mind. Unfortunately I have not yet found a way to make it healthy and still taste great, so I only eat it occasionally. Would be great to find a quick and easy recipe that is also healthy!
I’m going to go straight to the beg factor— pick me, pullllllleaaaazzze.
I used to love a good grilled cheese sandwich made with American cheese on white bread. Now I’m branching into more exotic cheeses and more whole grain breads. Still probably not the healthiest but comfort food for sure! Thanks for the giveaway!
My ultimate in comfort food is pot roast & potatoes. There’s nothing better than coming home on a cold winter’s day to a bubbling crock pot!
Hilarious! Almost every comment I read, I was like “That’s my comfort food too!” Tunafish sandwiches, bologna sandwiches, mac and cheese, hot dogs, grilled cheese. Is it wrong that it’s kind of still my favorite kind of food? My mom used to make this thing we called milk noodles, and if I write a cookbook, it will be the star recipe. Thin little noodles cooked in milk and butter, like a porridge. It’s amazing. Whenever the sky is falling, we make it.
And @SingleWoman, I swear, I pick at random out of a hat! Good luck!
Awesome; I love Jess! Will tweet this out! xx
Thank you thank you!
We used to have creamed peas/tuna on toast for lunch on the weekends. It probably could be made healthier with whole wheat bread and skim or soy milk.
Growing up, Sunday morning always equaled eggs. Sure, first I sat through an hour of the Word while my brothers poked me, but I had my dad’s sunny side up eggs and my grandmum’s homemade Irish brown bread to look forward to- thickly sliced and perfect for dipping. Mmm… food coma. I still love eggs, but when I want to keep it light and tasty, I make an omelet or scrambled eggs with one yolk for every two whites. I also add some fresh chives and chèvre to give them a bit more zing while still keeping it léger 😉
My favorite comfort food was pizza! Of course nowadays, now that have kids, I try to make the thinnest, crispiest, yummiest pizzas at home. I let the kids choose the toppings and then throw in the freshest ingredients I can find. This book looks awesome, thanks a lot for the giveaway!
Boxed macaroni and cheese with frozen peas on the side (or mixed in). Even now, it’s one of my all-time favorites — except now instead of Kraft, I buy the “five ancient grains” kind from Annie’s organic, so it’s a little bit healthier. In general, I’ve found that spelt/kamut pastas are great for increasing nutrition without tasting gritty or too wheaty.
I love Mac & cheese. Would be great to make a healthy version. Thanks for teaching me how to make good French food 🙂
I love boxed mac and cheese–it’s one of my secret sins. In the States, I do try to get Annie’s too, but when I’m in London, I shell out $5 a box for Kraft. Can’t live without! And I love making homemade pizza–well, almost. I buy the dough. I do one with creme fraiche, potatoes, and Reblochon. And I always add chevre and herbs to my eggs!
And I thanks for saying I teach you to make good French food–that made me so happy!
My fav childhood comfort food has to be beans and weenies sooo good!
Mine would have to be Mac and Cheese. Not the Kraft boxed Mac and Cheese…but the real homemade mac and cheese with the strongest cheese possible! I love Gruyere cheese with it. I try to make it a little figure-friendly by using skim milk and margarine or an olive oil based spread of some sort and I use whole wheat pasta. And reduced fat or fat free cheese. So good! Just a dish of that, curled up on the couch with a glass of wine….AMAZING!
My two favorite comfort food memories are home-made mac&cheese mixed with tomato soup and chicken pot-pie from scratch with pearl onions – still both go-to favs in my house!
LOVE your blog and ALL things french!! My all-time favorite food (comfort or otherwise) is mac ‘n cheese. I have been known to “health” it up by sneaking in butternut squash, or I replace the cream with lowfat milk, and make sure to use very sharp cheese so I can use less.
Green bean casserole.. IT was one of my mom’s signature dishes hehe!
By the way… I love love the book.. can’t wait to cook up a storm from it! (And your recipes never disappoint, of course!)
Thank you. I’m so glad you like the book. Let us know what you make!
When I think of comfort food, I think of dessert. RASPBERRY APPLESAUCE JELLO SALAD. This comfort food of mine, however, can be used as either a side dish or as a dessert. What a GREAT and REFRESHING combination!! + You tend to appreciate the dish alittle more knowing it came out from your own garden.
Bummer! The give-a-way is closed. Planning on buying this book anyways. I already, have Deceptively Delicous (which I love). 🙂 ….but for those who have never tried this recipe, try it! ..it doesn’t even have to be with raspberries either.
There’s a new giveaway coming up soon! Stay tuned…