everything else is just a vehicle for the garlic and onions, amirite?
The one that gets her really... demanding... is the mac and cheese. It's just a cheddar mornay - white roux, milk until about heavy cream consistency cheddar cubes or shredded, let it get thicker than you'd like... Then cook the pasta not-quite-done, drain off most the liquid and finish cooking with the sauce. chives and fine-chopped bacon if you're a weirdo with left over bacon... fresh cracked black pepper
Its one of my go-to comfort foods. or comfort sides. you can get surprisingly fancy with it, too. lots of variation is possible.
My cat would beg for food sometimes when I was preparing it but tuna was different. He didn't even bother with the normal pawing at me and meowing while I was at the counter. He would just go straight to my desk in the other room where I ate and sit on it waiting for me to arrive.