We asked our readers to send in accounts and recipes of simple and sometimes unconventional ‘sick food’ that nourished them, cheered them and in some cases healed them.

While your teacher was explaining to a sea of dull, tired faces at class what “every cloud has a silver lining” meant, you were at home. A little feverish, waiting for your mother to come, you wiggled your toes under a blanket and watched the sun peek through the clouds, illuminating them in gold. When she finally walked in with that dish you realised that maybe it wasn’t so bad to be home after all. Your face lit up as you looked at the food in front of you, while your friends at school struggled to come up with sentences that illustrated clouds and their linings.

What was in that dish in your mother’s hands that day? Many people have dishes that aren’t necessarily traditional or conventional, but that have been weaved into their family’s tradition in some way or another--and are just as heartwarming and healing.

We asked our readers to send in recipes and accounts of food, both simple and unconventional that nourished them, cheered them and sometimes even healed them.

RUSK IN COFFEE