Kelly Ripa in the kitchen. ElectroluxThanks to her petite frame and fit figure, talk show host Kelly Ripa doesn't exactly look like the type who digs into high-calorie comfort foods, but she insists she's just like everyone else when it comes to indulging in a rich dish, especially around the holidays.
"Everybody has a certain something that's their go-to dish when they're feeling down. I certainly love mashed potatoes more than anyone on the planet. I love them with cream and butter. They're a staple in the fall and winter in my house," says Ripa, who's teamed up with Electrolux for its search for America's favorite comfort food to raise awareness and funds for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
The 41-year-old — who, with her hubby of 15 years, former soap star Mark Consuelos, has three kids, 14-year-old Michael, 10-year-old Lola, and 8-year-old Joaquin -- isn't the only one in the family with a penchant for feel-good food. "Joaquin loves mac and cheese," she says of her youngest. "Mark's comfort food is any sort of roast, any meat that's been slow roasted."
And while the family may love all of the usual Thanksgiving fare, the way they've spent their Turkey Day over the last decade has been anything but conventional.
Kelly and her family. Brandon Todd/Splash News
"Since I've had the talk show, we've been on remotes just about every Thanksgiving, so we've spent Thanksgiving in some pretty tropical locations, like the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, which you don't think of as a cornucopia of pumpkin, and pumpkin pie, and turkey," Ripa explains. "But we really have managed to have a lovely Thanksgiving, even though we're traveling and we're far from home."
This year, however, with her "Live With Regis and Kelly" co-host Regis Philbin's recent retirement, the show is taking Thanksgiving off, which means the mom of three will finally be able to whip up those beloved mashers right in her own kitchen on Thursday. "We're enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving this year at home with our family and friends," she says.
As for the rest of the holiday season, The Ripa-Consuelos clan plans to stick with their annual Christmas tradition of attending midnight mass on Christmas Eve or morning services on Christmas day at their local church.
"Christmas we have it at home. I love the magic of the kids waking up and just all of it," Ripa explains. "We belong to a beautiful church just down the street and it's a beautiful experience. It's not gotten old for my kids. We just love it."
Learn more about Electrolux's search for America's favorite comfort food at Kelly-Confidential.com
More Celebrity Features on Yahoo!:
Padma Lakshmi: I Gain Weight Every 'Top Chef Season'
Kristen Wiig: An Unlikely Bro
Pregnant Jessica Simpson 'More Confident' Than Ever
LATEST BLOGS
