Simple, tangy, and satisfying, this rice dish was a staple of my childhood and is now my go-to comfort food as an adult.
There are a few dishes I remember clearly from my childhood: tacos, roast chicken, homemade pizza, pound cake.
But there’s one dish that fills me with comfort and takes me back to the days of my youth, when I was convinced that everyone in the world needed to know how delicious my favorite food was.
I wanted to shout about it from my rooftop: “Rice with tomato paste and cheese is the best!”
That’s right, people. My favorite food as a child was a plate of fluffy white rice mixed with tomato paste and grated cheddar cheese. The resulting dish was tangy, salty, creamy, and filling. Everything melded together in a soft cloud of delicious redness, with bursts of salty creaminess from the cheese.
Of course, even as I child I knew that Tillamook’s sharp cheddar cheese was superior and my first choice for this dish. Add a little butter to the rice, and it went down even smoother.
My kids don’t show any interest in trying this life-changing meal, which does make me wonder how my mom got my sister and I to try it. My mother is from France and didn’t cook much during my childhood, but she did make this for us. As we got older, we were able to mix the tomato paste ourselves and grate our own cheese. Probably one of the reasons I loved this dish so much was because I was able to make it myself; a dash of independence does make things taste better when you are a kid. Just like Baby Bottle Pops where you did the top into the too-sweet powder to make your own concoction.
Comfort food can mean different things to people. It could be a favorite candy from their childhood or a special ice cream flavor. Or even a dish that was reserved for birthdays and special occasions. What makes them resonate is how the taste invokes memories and even feelings of warmth, safety, and satiation.
Perhaps we don’t even care for the taste any more; it’s just the memories that we chase. Memories of a simpler time. A time where loved ones cooked for us and we knew that food was made with care and love. As adults, do we often get the pleasure of being cooked for and taken care of? I am a single parent of four and I am the sole cook and purveyor of food and snacks in our household. Some evenings I wish someone would tuck me in with a bowl of soup or a dish of steaming shrimp scampi. I am dating a wonderful chef who has made quite a few delicious dishes for me and the absolute pleasure and warmth that comes from someone cooking for you is really special. I feel very grateful and lucky. Find someone who makes you feel like your favorite comfort food: warm, loved, and safe.
Learning how to make your favorite comfort food is both freeing and a little bittersweet. It tastes a little different, as though the magic of childhood has flown away. However, our adult tastes might add something special or different to the dish, which in turn modernizes it for who we currently are. As hard as adulthood is, I certainly wouldn’t turn back the clock. I am happy where I am in life and have learned many lessons.
When I take a bite of my tangy tomato rice, I am reminded of how far I have come. I am no longer a shy, unsure child. Now, I am a strong woman who has overcome many obstacles and am ready to face whatever comes with an unshakable sense of self and perseverance.
On days where my to-do list is long and hitches happen, I mix scarlet tomato paste into pearly rice. I grate creamy orange cheese into my bowl and let the familiar recipe ground me. Comfort foods provide comfort and strength, reminding of us who we were and who we have become.
