wonderful winter comfort food

I can remember,distinctly, as a young girl,coming in from playing in the snow with my brother in the morning,and there was my dad, at the stove. Mind you, my dad has never been, nor will ever be a brilliant chef, but he was always stirring something with a wooden spoon. What was he stirring? Cream of farina. What is so exciting about cream of farina (aka cream of wheat)? Absolutely nothing. But when you are a kid and you see your parent cooking you think whatever it is is the best thing ever. So I had to try some. And my dad would eat it sweet, with yummy, overpriced preserves of some sort, usually apricot or blackberry. This would give me an excuse to indulge in the jam, which is not something you usually eat, unless on a pbj sandwich which Joan the dietician didnt make us often. So I was always excited to eat this yummy, sweet concoction my dad would make. I went off to college, came home, worked various jobs, and now, living with my fiance, I make myself cream of farina sometimes. This morning I was cold. I dropped him off at the train station, came home, and knew just what I wanted. So I put up some cream of farina, that my dad used to call "hot and luscious cream of wheat" and I probably dont make it exactly like he did. I think with his there was butter involved. But mine is sweet, and warm, and makes me feel good all over, and warm. Who says food can't comfort? But honestly, I think its more of the feeling of positive memories of my childhood that comfort me the most.