When the economy went south in 2008, Suzan Colón turned to her family's time-tested recipes to pick herself up—and save some money. She recounts the stories behind those dishes in her new memoir, Cherries in Winter (Doubleday). O asked her to recommend what to eat in a variety of tough situations.
Job loss: Spaghetti and meatballs. "You need a meal that's cheap but cheerful—a slight indulgence, but not too extravagant. And a big bowl of pasta will help you sleep so you won't be up all night fretting about money."
Fight with your best friend: Cupcakes. "Baking for someone is a nice gesture, so give your friend her favorite flavor. It's really difficult to be angry when confronted with a cupcake."
Death of a loved one: Lasagna. "When a neighbor loses someone, I always bring over a big pan of lasagna. If they have company, it provides enough to go around. If they're alone, they don't have to think about dinner for a week. It's a universal comfort food."
Breakup: A hamburger. "The first night, have a burger with the works: cheese, bacon, onions, and possibly French fries. But the next day, eat heathy food and go to the gym —looking better than you did during the relationship is just delicious."
