The Comfort Food Diaries by Emily Nunn

At some point over the last four years, I feel as if I have lost myself as a person but found myself as a writer. I do not have delusions of grandeur, or even mediocracy, and this play on words is my motto “me write pretty one day”. 

Since moving to Colorado, I have stopped engaging in activities that bring me joy: reading for pleasure, making time for friends, traveling and connecting. I have just not had the heart for anything that wasn’t a necessity or work involved.

It is no secret that my, now 13 year old, son has bipolar and high-functioning autism and we have been struggling since we’ve moved from New York (and long before that but not to this degree). With that stress which included hospitalizations and feelings of hopelessness, I stopped reading for enjoyment. It is as if my brain is overloaded and I just wanted to fill up on “stupid” telelvision in the evening. 

Yes, I read cookbooks, but I do not read them like a novel. I can put down a cookbook and pick it up weeks later. But when I am presented with a great novel, I cannot put it down. Defying sleep, I will stay up speeding through the pages seeking a resolution. Why am I telling you all of this? I am oversharing to justify why I have not read The Comfort Food Diaries: My Quest for the Perfect Dish to Mend a Broken Heart by Emily Nunn yet.

This morning I picked up Emily’s book. It has been near my desk since I received it taunting me as I have heard incredible things.  As I wanted to put up this promotion today, I thought I should glance through the book, read the first few pages to be able to speak personally about its style. Immediately, I was drawn in and an hour later, I had to force myself to stop. I want to spend my entire day finishing this book, but I cannot. Work needs to be completed before I leave for New York next Thursday. My reward for not indulging myself now will be finishing The Comfort Food Diaries on the plane (who am I kidding this book will keep me up all night, thanks Emily.) The first few chapters are riveting, sad, funny, hopeless, hopeful and powerful. The book needs to be devoured in one sitting and the fifty recipes that are nestled throughout her journey of healing may help to mend my broken heart.

The publisher, Atria, has provided me with an extra copy of this title for one of you and I will ship it worldwide. The author is also providing two copies so we have a total of three copies to giveaway. Please enter below but do yourself a favor, buy the book now.

The publisher provided me one copy of this book which I will ship worldwide and the author is generously providing one additional copy.  One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on March 24th, 2018.

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115 Comments

  • Kristjudy  on  February 15, 2018

    Eileen Savannah crab salad.

  • jigglesfrog  on  February 15, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's rolls

  • lebarron2001  on  February 15, 2018

    Portia's scallops on creamed corn

  • Sharmiro  on  February 15, 2018

    I loved this book..I listened to it on a long drive, and it was wonderful..love to have the printed version.

  • Sharmiro  on  February 15, 2018

    I loved this book..I listened to it on a long drive, and it was wonderful..love to have the printed version. I want eat Beauty Soup.

  • WCchopper  on  February 15, 2018

    I'd probably try the Greyfield Inn gingerbread because i love southern gingerbread. The southern salami sandwich sounds intriguing…

  • LarissaPrusak  on  February 15, 2018

    Ha, the Purple shit sounds funny.

  • heyjude  on  February 15, 2018

    Rouille Croutons

  • ravensfan  on  February 15, 2018

    Ezra Pound Cake

  • annmartina  on  February 15, 2018

    I was hoping Dot's salad was made with Dots and whipping cream but that's not to be. I'll choose Collard Greens soup.

  • linseysowa  on  February 15, 2018

    Angel Biscuits!!

  • lpatterson412  on  February 15, 2018

    Pot of pinto beans!!

  • Steben  on  February 15, 2018

    Eileen's Savannah crab stew

  • janv  on  February 15, 2018

    Chef Daniel Malzhan's grilled white nectarines with sweet basil, homemade crème fraîche, and wildflower honey

  • LDGourmet  on  February 15, 2018

    The cabbage or unusual vinaigrette. At least, that's my mood today.

  • sipa  on  February 15, 2018

    Fig tarte Tatin with red-wine caramel

  • JennaKat  on  February 15, 2018

    I'd make "Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake" because my husband LOVES lemon cake (and his b-day is in just a couple weeks …)

  • JRumi  on  February 15, 2018

    Magnificent sour cream corn muffins

  • rahiscock  on  February 15, 2018

    The amazing Cherry Pie on the cover. Wow!

  • Katti  on  February 16, 2018

    Mini pan bagnat sandwiches

  • EmilyR  on  February 16, 2018

    Toni's onion rings, thought purple shit sounds fascinating.

  • jemans  on  February 16, 2018

    parmesan and prosciutto spoon bread

  • usingSpoons  on  February 16, 2018

    Some of these will be a challenge to make in the UK, but I think I’m safe with Chef Bruce Sherman’s cheesy eggs 🙂

  • Puguppy  on  February 16, 2018

    Morning custard

  • ebs  on  February 16, 2018

    Magnificent sour cream corn muffins

  • Scotsman61  on  February 16, 2018

    "Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake"

  • jmay42066  on  February 17, 2018

    Emily's pimento cheese

  • rchesser  on  February 17, 2018

    Greyfield Inn's gingerbread

  • Joy001  on  February 17, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast

  • JenJoLa  on  February 17, 2018

    Spicy beans with coconut milk

  • kmn4  on  February 17, 2018

    Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake

  • Gocatgo  on  February 17, 2018

    Toni's tomato sauce to use up all the fresh tomatoes from our garden!

  • contest718  on  February 18, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  February 18, 2018

    I would like to try making the Cinnamon chocolate pecan cookies.

  • Siegal  on  February 18, 2018

    I want to make father Tracey’s bran muffins

  • Livia  on  February 18, 2018

    It has got to be the Fig tarte Tatin with red-wine caramel 😀

  • lapsapchung  on  February 19, 2018

    Parmesan and Proscuttio Spoon Bread

  • lgroom  on  February 19, 2018

    Great Grandmother's mean lemon cake.

  • sgump  on  February 19, 2018

    Who can resist "Ezra Pound cake"? (Actually, why didn't I think of that one earlier myself?)

  • Dannausc  on  February 19, 2018

    Cream cheese and olive sandwiches

  • AnneOther  on  February 19, 2018

    First thing I'd make is Greyfield Inn's gingerbread.

  • antpantsii  on  February 19, 2018

    Sour cherry pie

  • maisietoo  on  February 19, 2018

    Ezra Pound Cake sounds… like comfort cake.

  • Joyceeong  on  February 20, 2018

    pot of pinto beans

  • abihamm  on  February 20, 2018

    Greyfield Inn's gingerbread

  • shaz4  on  February 20, 2018

    Her Great-Grandmother’s mean lemon cake – what a fantastic name for a cake!

  • matag  on  February 20, 2018

    Eileen's Savannah crab stew

  • AnnaZed  on  February 22, 2018

    A bitter salad with grapefruit and avocado

  • anniette  on  February 22, 2018

    The mini Pan Bagnat makes me hungry right now, with the Parmesan and Prosciutto Spoon Bread for later, thank you.

  • mpdeb98  on  February 24, 2018

    Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake

  • mcrimmins  on  February 24, 2018

    Great-Grandmother's Mean Lemon Cake sounds like a winner to me.

  • clairew137  on  February 25, 2018

    Greyfield Inn's gingerbread

  • LaurenE  on  February 25, 2018

    Fig tarte Tatin with red-wine caramel

  • sarahawker  on  February 25, 2018

    Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake

  • mrp55  on  February 25, 2018

    I would make the Beauty Soup. I can so identify with this author. When all else fails, I can make and eat soup.

  • Shelley.b  on  February 26, 2018

    Ezra pound cake

  • stitchan  on  February 27, 2018

    Eileen's Savannah crab stew

  • HermionieG  on  February 27, 2018

    Wyler's pure and simple salmon cakes

  • obbigttam  on  February 28, 2018

    Richard's special Cajun spice – give a man a spice mix and many dishes will follow 🙂

  • biro  on  February 28, 2018

    Aunt Mariah’s Rolls

  • lils74  on  February 28, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's Pot Roast

  • Arinelle  on  February 28, 2018

    Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake!

  • skyejaden  on  February 28, 2018

    Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake!

  • AlisonL  on  February 28, 2018

    Portia's roasted winter squash soup

  • Maria.luiza  on  February 28, 2018

    Pot of pinto beans

  • luccio  on  February 28, 2018

    Richard's special Cajun spice

  • GregH  on  February 28, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast

  • Sfgordon  on  February 28, 2018

    Spaghetti squash parmesan! Everything sounds like the weird stuff I make for myself when I only have random ingredients and I don't want to go to the grocery store.

  • nadiam1000  on  March 1, 2018

    Great Grandmother's Mean Lemon Cake – I cannot resist a lemon dessert and with a name like this…

  • Cryambers  on  March 1, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's rolls

  • jd5761  on  March 1, 2018

    Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake – i love the sound of that

  • madelainelc  on  March 1, 2018

    Beauty soup, the ingredients sound delicious.

  • kitchenfrolic  on  March 2, 2018

    Definitely would want to try Great-grandmother's mean lemon cake because I love anything with lemon in it!

  • kennethjohngilmour  on  March 2, 2018

    Toni's onion rings

  • choppergirl  on  March 2, 2018

    Spicy beans with coconut milk

  • bamato  on  March 2, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's rolls

  • jaelsne  on  March 2, 2018

    It's gotta be Purple Shit for me! I must see what it is.

  • ejsimpson  on  March 2, 2018

    Emily's pimento cheese

  • BMeyer  on  March 2, 2018

    gingerbread

  • t.t  on  March 3, 2018

    Eseeola Lodge spaghetti squash Parmesan

  • RSW  on  March 4, 2018

    A bitter salad with grapefruit and avocado

  • SBabij  on  March 5, 2018

    I would like to try the Angel biscuits

  • shellee  on  March 5, 2018

    Portia's roasted winter squash soup

  • PollySBA  on  March 7, 2018

    Red cabbage with bacon, apple, and balsamic vinegar

    Salty comfort food

  • Jenamarie  on  March 8, 2018

    Parmesan and prosciutto spoon bread

  • iza27  on  March 8, 2018

    I would try the smoked trout pate.

  • Coffeebean  on  March 9, 2018

    Cream cheese and olive sandwiches

  • camerashy131  on  March 10, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast

  • trudys_person  on  March 10, 2018

    A Bitter Salad with Grapefruit and Avocado – love grapefruit!

  • kbennall  on  March 12, 2018

    parmesan and prosciutto spoon bread

  • LaraM  on  March 12, 2018

    Beauty 🍲 soup

  • Ishtar  on  March 14, 2018

    Ezra Pound cake. Very amusing

  • Joy001  on  March 14, 2018

    Magnificent sour cream corn muffins

  • bookreadera  on  March 15, 2018

    Ezra Pound cake b/c my endless search for the perfect pound cake recipe continues.

  • PeavineBlues  on  March 16, 2018

    Buttery biscuits

  • Julia  on  March 16, 2018

    Angel biscuits, Portia’s Collard Soup

  • HomespunHouse  on  March 16, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's rolls

  • GillB  on  March 16, 2018

    Dots salad

  • sequoia55  on  March 17, 2018

    Magnificent sour cream corn muffins

  • MarieRayner  on  March 17, 2018

    The Ezra Pound Cake is calling my name! xo

  • eileen2015  on  March 17, 2018

    Crab salad

  • dbrhs  on  March 17, 2018

    Great Grandma's Mean Lemon Cake

  • chasteph  on  March 17, 2018

    I think Beauty Soup sounds just lovely!

  • circ2000  on  March 17, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast

  • Whyvette  on  March 18, 2018

    I loved this book! I am trying Emily's Shrimp-and-Grits Style Risotto first.

  • cake17uk  on  March 18, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast – love a pot roast, so cold here at the minute too, could do with some right now!

  • TanyaD  on  March 18, 2018

    Angel biscuits

  • Karla123  on  March 18, 2018

    Beauty soup…a plant-based soup for a healthy glow. What's not to love?

  • Singleta417  on  March 18, 2018

    Ezra's pound cake

  • chimpbob  on  March 20, 2018

    Angel Biscuits

  • MusicCityMissy  on  March 21, 2018

    I have already made several but I might have to try the Purple Shit for fun.

  • orchidlady01  on  March 22, 2018

    Aunt Mariah's pot roast

  • munki  on  March 22, 2018

    Purple Shit…for guests. How can you not?

  • RickPearson54  on  March 23, 2018

    gingerbread

  • leilx  on  March 24, 2018

    So many of them look good! Martha’s Virginia Sweet Pickles and Emily’s own Spoon bread definitely

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