Growing Up with Food Maniacs

Comfort food...
We all have it. When I was little, mine was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...on WHITE bread (had to be white)...FOLDED over (not sliced). I ate it every single day...except for that day we were all out of supplies and I had to have bologna instead...never mind - let's not talk about that.

Back to comfort food...what's yours? Maybe it's mashed potatoes, mac 'n' cheese, french fries, popcorn, waffles...the possibilities are endless. But one thing is for sure - it's called "comfort food" because it's more than just food to you. It's something tangible that tells your emotions, "Everything's going to be okay." And as silly as it sounds...you know that it's absolutely true!

For Pati Jinich, comfort food takes the shape of flavorful, unique recipes featuring ingredients from her home country of Mexico. In her own words, she comes "from a family of accomplished cooks and food maniacs...absolute maniacs." Later, as an adult living in Texas, Pati began teaching her neighbors her favorite recipes. Even through all her non-food-related ventures, she could not stop thinking about food!

Her husband encouraged her to follow her passion, and she decided to go for it. Now she has multiple awards, nominations, cookbooks, and a television show - all centered around food!

Pati is a firm believer in comfort food. A theme that comes up in her show is her unique way of navigating homesickness. When she misses Mexico, she heads to the kitchen and cooks. Her recipes deliberately use ingredients that remind her of home with their fragrances and tastes. What a great idea!

So, if you enjoy tasty food and down-to-earth people, you have to check out Pati’s website. She also has a Facebook page and a Pinterest page. AND...you can also watch full episodes of Pati’s Mexican Table on public television or Amazon Prime. You will not regret it - in fact, you'll probably be cooking up something tasty in your kitchen soon after, and possibly discovering something that just might become your own new favorite comfort food!

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