Katherine Nicolai

Sometimes from this spot, I could see deer browsing through the trunks of trees, dipping their heads and nosing the snow aside from a mouthful of berries. But today, all was still. Everyone was staying home. Eventually, I slipped my feet back into my slippers and padded down into the kitchen. It was a bit past lunchtime Nearly two, in fact.

And that made me think of the Italian way of eating a good-sized meal at this time of day. Something that would stay with you and nourish you for a good long while. I went to my cupboard and pulled down a jar of green lentils, a tiny can of tomato paste, and a box of pasta. Pasta con lenticchio today. A comforting pasta soup that was simple to make and delicious and satisfying.

And that made me think of the Italian way of eating a good-sized meal at this time of day. Something that would stay with you and nourish you for a good long while. I went to my cupboard and pulled down a jar of green lentils, a tiny can of tomato paste, and a box of pasta. Pasta con lenticchio today. A comforting pasta soup that was simple to make and delicious and satisfying.

And that made me think of the Italian way of eating a good-sized meal at this time of day. Something that would stay with you and nourish you for a good long while. I went to my cupboard and pulled down a jar of green lentils, a tiny can of tomato paste, and a box of pasta. Pasta con lenticchio today. A comforting pasta soup that was simple to make and delicious and satisfying.

I tipped the lentils into a colander to rinse them, and as they ran over my fingers, I had a sudden memory of being very young, maybe four years old, in a classroom with a paint-smeared smock tied around me. There were bins of rice and grains, and we could dip our tiny hands into them and feel them tickle over our skin as all the kernels and seeds collided.

I tipped the lentils into a colander to rinse them, and as they ran over my fingers, I had a sudden memory of being very young, maybe four years old, in a classroom with a paint-smeared smock tied around me. There were bins of rice and grains, and we could dip our tiny hands into them and feel them tickle over our skin as all the kernels and seeds collided.

I tipped the lentils into a colander to rinse them, and as they ran over my fingers, I had a sudden memory of being very young, maybe four years old, in a classroom with a paint-smeared smock tied around me. There were bins of rice and grains, and we could dip our tiny hands into them and feel them tickle over our skin as all the kernels and seeds collided.

I remembered that I had liked the way it felt. and had happily stayed there, just sliding my hands through the bins and quietly humming to myself. I supposed I hadn't changed that much in the years since. I still liked the pleasure of my own company, and could easily entertain myself with simple, enjoyable things. I took a small pot from a shelf and set it on the stove.

I remembered that I had liked the way it felt. and had happily stayed there, just sliding my hands through the bins and quietly humming to myself. I supposed I hadn't changed that much in the years since. I still liked the pleasure of my own company, and could easily entertain myself with simple, enjoyable things. I took a small pot from a shelf and set it on the stove.

I remembered that I had liked the way it felt. and had happily stayed there, just sliding my hands through the bins and quietly humming to myself. I supposed I hadn't changed that much in the years since. I still liked the pleasure of my own company, and could easily entertain myself with simple, enjoyable things. I took a small pot from a shelf and set it on the stove.

I measured in water and olive oil, a clove of garlic and a spoonful of the tomato paste. I added the rinsed lentils and turned on the hob. As the water warmed and came to a boil, The smell of the tomato and garlic filled my little kitchen. I turned it a bit lower and let it simmer away for a bit to let the lentils soften.

I measured in water and olive oil, a clove of garlic and a spoonful of the tomato paste. I added the rinsed lentils and turned on the hob. As the water warmed and came to a boil, The smell of the tomato and garlic filled my little kitchen. I turned it a bit lower and let it simmer away for a bit to let the lentils soften.

I measured in water and olive oil, a clove of garlic and a spoonful of the tomato paste. I added the rinsed lentils and turned on the hob. As the water warmed and came to a boil, The smell of the tomato and garlic filled my little kitchen. I turned it a bit lower and let it simmer away for a bit to let the lentils soften.

I liked a small pasta noodle for this, like titali, which are short tubes and whose name meant thimble. I liked that. Thimble soup. on a cold day. The broth had become a bit thicker as the lentils cooked and was a rich, reddish brown. I tipped in the pasta and gave it a stir. As it cooked, I set a place for myself at the table. A glass of mineral water, a napkin, salt and pepper,

I liked a small pasta noodle for this, like titali, which are short tubes and whose name meant thimble. I liked that. Thimble soup. on a cold day. The broth had become a bit thicker as the lentils cooked and was a rich, reddish brown. I tipped in the pasta and gave it a stir. As it cooked, I set a place for myself at the table. A glass of mineral water, a napkin, salt and pepper,

I liked a small pasta noodle for this, like titali, which are short tubes and whose name meant thimble. I liked that. Thimble soup. on a cold day. The broth had become a bit thicker as the lentils cooked and was a rich, reddish brown. I tipped in the pasta and gave it a stir. As it cooked, I set a place for myself at the table. A glass of mineral water, a napkin, salt and pepper,

and a tiny dish of red pepper flakes. I was rationing them and had been doling them out in tiny increments for a while now. You can buy them anywhere, but these particular peperoncini had been bought in a little shop in Maiori by a friend. and therefore had a special flavor that probably had more to do with sentiment than taste buds.

and a tiny dish of red pepper flakes. I was rationing them and had been doling them out in tiny increments for a while now. You can buy them anywhere, but these particular peperoncini had been bought in a little shop in Maiori by a friend. and therefore had a special flavor that probably had more to do with sentiment than taste buds.

and a tiny dish of red pepper flakes. I was rationing them and had been doling them out in tiny increments for a while now. You can buy them anywhere, but these particular peperoncini had been bought in a little shop in Maiori by a friend. and therefore had a special flavor that probably had more to do with sentiment than taste buds.

I imagined her on her summer vacation with a floppy hat and giant sunglasses, stepping out of the bright Mediterranean sun into a shop with packets of spices strung on a hook by the door, and remembering how much I liked to add these to my soups and sauces, taking one down for me. When the pasta was cooked, I ladled it out into a bowl and carried it to my place.