The power of comfort food is that it lets you turn back the clock. Superrich hot chocolate, creamy tomato soup, and crispy french fries: kid stuff. But since the aim here is to revert to an idealized childhood rather than an actual one, we've made a few adjustments. If your mother used to serve potato soup, chances are she didn't make it with sage and toasted-walnut pesto. Her mashed potatoes also couldn't possibly have been as subtly flavored (with garlic and shallots) as ours, and we've developed what we feel is the greatest grilled cheese ever (challah!). These deliciously basic, deeply indulgent recipes are a chance to do it over again with what you know now.