Recipes for comfort

Or, what to cook for a friend who’s having a hard time

Sep 13, 2024

Susan’s beautiful mother, Deborah, with her handsome father, Frank (a.k.a Sonny), in 1956

Hello, dear readers!

This edition of the newsletter is a little different from the norm. It’s Bridget here; I’m one of the editors of Susanality.

I’m writing because Susan is offline and focusing on family. Sadly, she’s in the process of saying goodbye to her beloved mother. Though goodbye doesn’t quite feel like the right word. Our loved ones are always with us, in our hearts and minds — don’t you think?

In any case, I usually stay behind the scenes, but today, I’m filling in for Susan. And given all that’s going on, it’s no surprise that I have comfort food on my mind.

I live just north of Chicago, so Susan and I are many miles apart. But I wish I could show my concern and care for her by bringing her a meal.

When a friend or loved one is going through a hard time — like facing a loss, navigating a health crisis, or experiencing the joy and exhaustion of welcoming a new baby — my go-to response is to cook for them. You can’t take someone’s pain away. But you can take meal planning and prep off their plate — and that’s not nothing.

In fact, I think we can all agree that a cozy helping of something can be a real balm. But what to cook?

When my third child was born, a family friend brought over pasta, pre-boiled and stored with a glug of olive oil in a big zip-top bag; some spiralized zucchini noodles; and a beautiful homemade bolognese sauce studded with bell peppers and onions. There was a large Tupperware of cut watermelon and frozen yogurt for dessert. It was such a family-friendly crowd pleaser (my kids ate all of the things!), and so nourishing, too. This was four summers ago, but I’ll never forget how it made me feel (namely, loved, cared for, and less alone during an overwhelming time).

This season of life is a hectic one for me, with elementary-age kids and work and the constant chaos all of that brings, but I try to pay it forward when I can. If a loved one is hurting, I shoot them a text: Can I bring you dinner? How about X meal on X day? (I try to be specific, so all they have to do is say yes!)

The menu can be so simple. On a busy day, I might offer to bring:

a ready-to-bake marinated meat, such as pork loin, in a covered oven-proof dish
a quick homemade salad dressing in an upcycled Bonne Maman jar
some freshly washed salad greens
cut-up fruit
a package of good-quality sandwich buns for the pork leftovers

I try to tuck in a handmade card for added cheer. (If you have kids, they can help with this!)

Read on for some more ideas from the Susanality archives — including a recipe for the quintessential spaghetti dish that Susan used to comfort a broken-hearted Julia Roberts in the film Eat, Pray, Love.

If you have a go-to make-ahead meal that travels well, or if you’ve been the recipient of a special covered dish during a difficult stretch, please share in the comments. We love to hear your ideas! And who knows? Maybe then your dish will land on someone else’s doorstep when they need it most.

Take care,
Bridget

Comfort food to share

Forget sad, soggy casseroles. These make-ahead dishes are simple to serve — and they’re stunning, to boot.

Citrus Olive Oil Cake

A loaf of this — or really any quick bread — wrapped in parchment paper, tied up with string, and dropped on a doorstep is always a welcome sight. A batch of Susan’s chocolate zucchini muffins would be lovely right about now, too.

Baked Turkey-Spinach Meatballs

These make-ahead meatballs are a fantastic family dinner. To make your care package a complete meal, deliver with pre-cooked noodles. Just boil, cool, and store in a zip-top bag with a bit of olive oil.

Any Vegetable Soup

What’s more comforting and nourishing than soup? Make a big batch — some to keep, some to share. Pack half of it up in a mason jar or leak-proof container and deliver to a friend. For maximum solace, include a baguette for dipping.

Spaghetti AOP

Serves 4

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, Pomodoro is one of the first recipes Susan shared after launching Susanality. (Read the original post to learn why she decided to make it for Julia Roberts in that pivotal scene in Eat, Pray, Love!) It’s a classic comfort dish. If you’re making this ahead, keep the pasta and sauce separate until right before it’s time to eat.

12 ounces thick spaghetti
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4-5 small or 2-3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 cups canned crushed tomatoes or tomato purée
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Pinch of sugar
Pinch of red pepper flakes
3-4 basil leaves, torn, plus more to finish
Big pinch of black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Parmesan, for serving

Put a large pot of salted water on to boil. Heat the oil in a large (12-inch) skillet or Dutch oven over medium. Add the garlic and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Let cool for 1-2 minutes off the heat (to reduce spattering), then add the tomatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, sugar, a big pinch of red pepper flakes, and the torn basil. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the boiling water until al dente. Scoop out some of the water before draining the pasta, then add the pasta to the pan with the sauce, along with a little pasta water, a generous grind of black pepper, and the butter. Cook over high heat for 1-2 minutes, tossing until the butter is melted and the pasta is well-coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Top with grated parmesan and extra basil leaves and serve immediately.