Noodles and sympathy

From Sunday's Tribune magazine

Noodles and Sympathy: Hard times call for soft sheets of pasta

Should disaster strike, make lasagna....[I]t's best known as the International Casserole of Mourning.

I'm not so sure of that--or rather I'm sure enough of the second part but disagree with the first. I had two nieces as house-guests over New Year's. Since one was vegetarian and I had ricotta in the house, I suggested lasagna. The other started backing away in horror, looking for a silver cross to hold up in my face. When she could talk again, she explained that she still hasn't recovered from the NINE lasagnas that perfectly well-meaning people brought to the house after her mother's death a couple of years ago,

We had cousous. But having seem many of those lasagnas in person--not to mention the look of horror on my niece's face--I'm concerned that Ms. Eskin is only making things worse. I'll never bring another lasagna to a house in mourning, that's for sure, and I would advise you to think twice before you do as well.