Healing heartbreak in kitchen

Can cooking help you get over a heartbreak? Writer and cookbook author Jeanne Ambrose says a great dish not only helps you move on, but it can also make you feel better about bumps in the road.

“It seems like a cliche that food makes everything better but it does,” said Ambrose, who co-wrote “Heartbreak Recovery Kitchen” with her daughter, Lindsey Ambrose, after they’d both gone through some challenges.

“Cooking together took our mind off what was wrong, and then eating what we’d come up with was so gratifying.”

Ambrose compiled essays for her book from writers who shared cooking memories in relation to heartbreak, bringing new meaning to the term “comfort food.”

“Food produces comfort and a lot of that stems from your memories,” she said.

“Everybody goes through a heartbreak ... and we all bounce back. But we all do it differently. Yet somehow food always ties into the picture.”

Ambrose has tips for healing heartbreak in the kitchen:

Find a cooking buddy. “It’s better to wallow with friends.”

Cook with chocolate. “Chocolate does amazing things. ... It benefits your mood.”

Embrace aromas. “Certain fragrances are soothing and relieve stress. Lemon, mango and lavender are a few.”

Cook for friends. “Being around friends who love food and people who support you makes the tough times so much better.”