Smoked pork carnitas grilled cheese sandwich, smoked chicken taco, brisket quesadilla, onion rings at El Pobre Tex Mex BBQ trailer

What’s your favorite comfort food? Ask a dozen people and you’ll get a dozen different answers – each shaped by memory, mood and the occasional urge to devour something wildly indulgent when life gets stressful.

Comfort foods often carry a deep emotional imprint, tied to childhood rituals and secret adult cravings. As kids, we’d sneak licks of chocolate frosting from the knife before it hit the birthday cake. As grown-ups, we’re more likely to be caught red-handed raiding the fridge at midnight, spoon in hand, eating that same frosting straight from the tub – equal parts nostalgia and desperation.

GUIDE: Our updated list of the best barbecue joints in Houston

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And then there’s the iconic blue box of Kraft Mac-n-Cheese (tag line: “Welcome to the comfort zone”). I’ll admit to whipping up a batch of this chemically-enhanced cheesy goodness, stirring in a few extra pats of butter and unapologetically dredging out heaping spoonfuls for quick consumption.........

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