Home accessories: The Legend of the Villa della Luna

The Novel Bakers have been busy this week.

On Monday, the NB were in southern France, exploring a tucked-away farmhouse called Pistoulet.

Today, we packed up our pots and pans and visited Villa della Luna in Italy.

Villa Della Luna is the sequel to Pistoulet.

It opens after Mademoiselle J. has left the farmhouse in southern France and has traveled to Paris.

She still has moments of melancholy.

(But who doesn't?)

A visit to a tea room brings a glimpse into her future and news of another unexpected journey.

She has been invited to Italy, but she will need her passport.

And she needs another cup of rose tea to settle her mind.

Can she muster the energy to pack her bags again?

If she can't find joy in Paris, why would she find it in Italy?

Maybe she should stay home and eat chocolate.

When a woman is sad or hurt,

her heart can resemble a turtle's shell.

Hard.

A bit cumbersome.

Impossible to remove without causing discomfort.

It's been said that our thoughts--positive and negative--can literally rewire our brains.

We will live longer and be happier if we train ourselves to look for silver linings.

Sometimes we must travel within.

Sometimes a change in geography will set off an inner change.

Mademoiselle arrives at Villa della Luna.
It is the most beautiful place she has ever seen . . . yet it possesses a wildness.

An untamed, unpredictable element.

So very different from Mademoiselle J.'s buttoned-up, orderly world.

She needs to remind herself that another journey must start with letting go of the past.

The first order of business is comfort food: Risotto.

[Note: I'm cooking corn-and-pea risotto tonight for my husband's 63rd birthday. Just for fun, he's getting a peanut butter and chocolate cake. ]

Next, Mademoiselle took a hot sudsy bath, with a splash of gardenia oil.

The menu at Villa della Luna is extraordinary, nourishing the soul, mending our rough places, and helping us find simple pleasures.

Mademoiselle is served "Minestrone of Memories and Reflection."

This unusual soup summons memories of people who shall not be forgotten.

Another lovely meal: "Pasta Vivante: For those who are afraid of the Passion of Life."

I made two types of pasta--both were delicious.

Farmhouse Linguini with Organic Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

shallots

extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

garlic

organic tomato sauce

basil

fresh mozzarella or your favorite Italian cheese
fresh Buitoni pasta

Preparation:

1 shallot, chopped

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Cook for 3 minutes until translucent/clear. Salt and pepper.

Add three cloves of garlic and cook for 2 minutes.

Add 1 -15 ounce can of organic tomato sauce (no salt added--add your own sea salt to taste)

Roll 3 or 4 fresh basil leaves into a log and slice (or chop). This method helps prevent the basil from turning dark. Add to sauce.

In a separate pan, bring salted water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Toss in 1 package of Buitoni fresh linguini.

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain pasta and add to sauce.

Add finely chopped, fresh mozzarella or your favorite cheese.

Garnish with more basil.

Pasta Vivante is hearty fare, with pancetta and penne.

No meal is complete without the "Focaccia of Forgiveness and Release:

For those who need to let go of an emotional burden."

"Luna" wine is served with each meal.

If you are very quiet and very, very lucky,

the enchanted ducks of Villa della Luna will visit.

Sometimes you must read between the lines to discover

more unusual items on the menu.

Blood orange liqueur is a staple at the villa, but you must search for it.

[Note: I poured a bit of liqueur into a delicate blue glass, and when I

rearranged an orange, the fruit tumbled and knocked over my glass and splashed
onto the bottle.]

There's a lesson here.

I, like Mademoiselle, must learn to leave the oranges alone.

Embrace imperfection, and maybe I won't spill Italian liqueur, or worse.

Mid-afternoon snacks at the villa include cherries.

But Mademoiselle is still all neat-nicky and asks for a place to discard the pits.

An ancient box appears at the table.

(If you need a vial for tears, just ask and one will be provided.)