In college, Jesse had his first taste of meat loaf prepared at a school cafeteria. His friends warned him of the experience of tasting the cafeteria meat loaf, or mystery meat entree as they called it. What did Jesse find? Was it up to his expection of the deliciously prepared version at home? Would it bring comforting memories of family dinners during his childhood?

At first, he noticed the generic blandness of the gravy. It did nothing but moisten the industrially prepared mashed potatoes that accompanied it. The gravy was prepared from a package, and it made no pretense of being anything else. A bit disappointed, Jesse decided to take a bite of the meat loaf. He did not recall meat loaf needing to be cut with a knife. The way that his mother had prepared meat loaf simply recquired a fork.

The meat loaf was tough. It was overcooked. Even the filler, which Jesse thought had been overmeasured because the meat loaf seemed to have plenty of, was tough. It reminded him of either cardboard or particle board. The taste reminded him of meat extract. This was not very comforting. Although this first experience of cafeteria meat loaf was not very pleasant, Jesse would continue to call meat loaf a comfort food.

Yahoo! News Search Results for comfort foods
Yahoo! News Search Results for comfort foods

September is a great time to start diet, exercise
Winter has the holidays and comfort food, summer has backyard barbeques and vacations, spring brings festivities and chocolates and fall has apple pies and cider donuts. Just like the start of school signals change for students, it can signal a new start for you to make a healthy change. Even if you are not in school mode, try getting in touch with your inner student by buying a new book. If ...
Taste: Mac ?n? cheese
With fall peeking its cool head around the corner, the season for comfort foods is fast approaching. Forget mashed potatoes and fried chicken -- here it?s all about the quintessential macaroni and cheese.
Give kitchen a 'make under'
When renovating your kitchen, scale back and simplify.
High flavor for weeknight cooking
Weeknight cooking is no time for nuance. Meals must stand and be noticed. They must cut through the clutter of weekday chaos. And they must do it quickly and without fuss, mess or toil.
Rescue by boomers not on menu for eateries
Aging boomers will eat out less often in next decade, market research firm forecasts, but San Diego restaurateurs disagree.
10 decadent foods with half the guilt
(Photo: Getty Images) It's hardly a secret that cooking fresh foods at home is better for your health, waistline, pocket book, and the planet than choosing packaged foods or eating take-out. Does that mean you can eat anything you want as long as you prepare it yourself? Unfortunately, most of us need to steer clear of high-calorie foods that contain too much fat and salt. But this doesn't mean ...
13 QUESTIONS: Keith Page, president and CEO of Anderson Hospital
This week: Keith Page, president and CEO of Anderson Hospital in Maryville.
The gym will totally still be there after you finish that creme brulee.
Japanese BENIHANA VILLAGE Las Vegas Hilton, 732-5111. Japanese tabletop cooking at its finest. The chefs deliver great steaming-hot food, as well as an entertaining show.
Program focuses on healthy cooking for elders
Shane Valentine?s latest book may be ?Baby Cuisine,? but it was easy for him to shift to creating recipes for the elderly. ?It?s the same thought process,? he said.
Local Flavor: Olyvia's Italian Eatery
This week's Local Flavor takes us to a neighborhood eatery in Berks County.