The last few weeks I’ve been off my game on a number of fronts. Some personal business has gotten in the way of my blogging and the time I’d normally be hanging around my favorite social networks. Unfortunately, times like these are all part of life and can’t be avoided.

My family and I have had some decisions to make and we’ve been busy evaluating our options. With our course of action finally chosen this week after much deliberation, some measure of balance appears to have returned to the force. Through it all there was something that made me long for simpler times.

Whenever this happens I usually seek to make a meal that reminds of me of my childhood. The other day when we finally came to our resolution I poked around in our refrigerator determined to make something that fit the bill. That’s when I saw the package of chicken and it hit me – I needed my mom’s chicken tenders.

There is no written recipe, as they are simply strips of chicken breast dredged in flour and an egg wash and shallow fried in a pan of oil. Every once in a while I’ll mix things up a little by adding different spices in with the flour, or adding some grated cheese to the mix in an attempt to make them more appealing for my three year old. Still, no matter what I do differently, the end result is always satisfying.

As the four of us sat down to eat that afternoon the stresses of the previous few weeks seemed to wash away, even if only for the moment. It also reminded me of the power of the family meal and how something as simple as sitting down together for lunch or dinner can create lasting memories.

It is my hope that as my young family continues to grow that we will always remember the importance of sharing experiences like this and that one day these memories will provide comfort for my children. Whether it is a specific meal or just the time we spent together that can help sustain them when they are facing difficulty in their lives.

How about you, what are you favorite comforting foods? What memories do you have from your family’s table?