Making Space, Fall Playlist, & Comfort Foods
Hello friend,
There are weeks when my words are plenty… and there are weeks when my words are few. After staring at this screen trying to write words in this paragraph… I am finally realizing that this is one of those weeks of fewer words, and that is okay.
In such a week, I am grateful to have so many more ways of enjoying life, soothing my soul, and connecting with you all.
From the words of others, to wordless music, to making space for quiet to be okay, I hope you enjoy this week’s Notes from the Homestead.
Got any other songs, quotes or stories that inspire you? Share in the comments so we all can partake.
Something human…
“We tend to stay away from mourning and dancing. Too afraid to cry, too shy to dance… we become narrow-minded complainers, avoiding pain and also true human joy… while we live in a world subject to the evil one, we belong to God. Let us mourn, and let us dance.”
Something reflective…
On the impossibly rural Aeolian island of Alicudi, off the shore of Sicily, I once met a woman from London. I asked her what prompted her move from fast-paced London to a life where donkeys carry water to houses up and down the steep hillsides. She explained that she had once missed her subway on the way to work — the next one would arrive in one minute, but she’d missed the one she was trying to catch. It angered her to have missed it, a life scheduled down to the minute.
It was that moment in which she knew that life should have more space. Here are a few reflections on making space in this week’s new video…
Something on repeat…
Something cozy is coming…
Behind the scenes, I’ve got all the new fall products in my house for our store, Limone, and am busy taking photos and getting them loaded into our shelves for you. The level of cozy is increasing exponentially as I’ve been sampling scents like “Flora & Moss” candles while tucking a cashmere throw blanket around my shoulders.
Some of our favorites (like the mezzaluna chopper and our olive wood spoons) remain in the store year-round, but I’m excited to share the candles, market bags, hand towels, specialty pantry items, and (gasp!) our new line of tea that will welcome in the season at hand.
Keep an eye out! There’s beauty and comfort coming your way soon…
Something simple & delicious…
Macaroni and Tomato Juice
Though I’m not Italian by heritage, I am by heart, and time around our family table was nonetheless influenced by Italian fare, as so many tables are around the world. Fettuccini was on the table for all of my birthdays (don’t tell the Italians, but my Mom made it with cream), and at least once a week, my Mom made a large pot of (what we affectionately called at the time) “macaroni and tomato juice.” Though it wasn’t macaroni, and it wasn’t tomato juice, we all knew what it meant: ditalini pasta swimming in a warm bowl of tomato sauce, seasoned only with a generous dollop of butter, salt, and pepper, and served with finely grated Parmesan cheese. Authentic? Who knows. But it is a flavor of my childhood and just what I need as a bit of comfort this week.
Ingredients:
1 box ditalini or macaroni pasta
2 jars tomato passata, or jarred tomatoes of choice
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
6 tablespoons butter
Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions:
Heat a large stockpot of water until boiling. Add a handful of salt to the pasta. Stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and allow the pasta to simmer.
While the pasta cooks, pour the marinara into a large pan. Add in the salt, sugar, black pepper, and butter. Heat until simmering and warmed through.
Remove the pasta when it is just slightly undercooked. Strain it from the water and add it to the tomato mixture. Bring the whole dish up to a low simmer until the pasta is perfectly cooked.
Spoon the pasta into bowls and top with Parmesan cheese. Adjust salt and pepper as needed.
