Archive for January, 2009
Posted on January 30, 2009 - by napavalleybath
L’arte d’arrangiarsi!
Two things you must do if you haven’t done so already…..read
EAT PRAY LOVE…..and watch Babette’s Feast! Sandi, who keeps our St.
Helena store running, gave me EAT PRAY LOVE for a going away
present….I read it quickly and loved it…..and now I am reading the
phase where she was in Italy again…slowly….and literally laughing
out loud….she is very witty…..in one chapter she reveals an
Italian expression that I am now obsessed with….L’arte d’arrangiarsi
- the art of making something out of nothing…”the art of turning a
few simple ingredients into a feast or a few gathered friends into a
festival”…. how great is that? It’s also so true to our brand….on
every level….from the story of the Company…..to the production of
the products….and the emphasis on simple healthy meals…..and the
philosophy of the displays of 100% found objects….something out of
nothing…..and as the book says and I can attest to….you don’t have
to have money to do that! Now….if I could only pronounce it!
Babette’s Feast follows the same story line…..she had a bit of cash,
but the emphasis of the entire movie was on the feast that she
prepared and the connection that came from those gathered around the
table….a connection that they tried to deny at first but could
not….the meal was too powerful….it’s a classic and I’m sure many
of you have seen it….but rent it again….it will remind you of the
simple pleasures we can all partake it….no matter what is happening
around us.
A good life story….I’m not sure how many of you have read this in my
blog but I will quote it here….
“When I traveled with K and Em to Italy many years ago….I think they
were
5 and 7ish……we spent two days in Florence…..we were walking down
a
street and looked in a bar where there were many people having a good
time…..laughing and drinking……and I remember thinking how fun it
looked and having a
bittersweet feeling because of where my life was at that time…..and
as a good girl does when she feels a bit down….I wondered into a
boutique a few doors down and bought a jacket that I really shouldn’t
have….it was a simple light black jacket with “Mosshino” 
written
in small letters on the bottom….but more important….in larger
font, capitalized, written on the cuff of the sleeve was the word,
“LIFE”….and it had an arrow, which I interpreted as pointing to the
bar….oh no…I mean pointing forward…..I had to have it….it was
my symbol that life was moving forward….it’s amazing how we
rationalize these purchases isn’t it ladies?
Anyway, that was a
great trip but also tough…my first time out of the country and a lot
of
uncertainty in my life at the time….new life with the girls….new
business…new home…new career…in the Napa Valley…
FAST FORWARD to this journey…first day…..our taxi dropped us off
at
our apartment and we settled in. We quickly decided to
explore..turned left out the front door of our building and began to
soak it all in…walked no more then two doors down and looked in at
the jovial sounds
coming from our local bar….I stopped…..and immediately
knew….this was THE
bar….and I looked across the street….and there was the
boutique…..NO
JOKE….Chris was still with me at the time so went into the bar and
had a drink…we made a toast…..because nothing in life is a
coincidence……and I knew at that
point that this journey was a gift…and to enjoy it to its
fullest….no
matter what the days ahead may bring!”
And how does this lead to Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino?….ah
another coincidence is brewing….when I was cleaning my office before
I left I came across a bag of seasonings….Spaghetti aglio, olio e
peperoncino …. I laughed….I had bought them while I was in Italy
with the kids the first time…..they were amazing….and
simple….and I wanted to figure out what it was and being the
capitalist that I am….produce it. Obviously I got a little side
tracked….timing is everything…..so I took them home and started to
do some research….well I didn’t need to go far because this is a
classic Italian dish….not the seasoning secret that I had imagined
would have put my on Oprah….none the less..it was a cool product and
I wanted to make it….so I figured out the combination and then
sourced the best organic garlic, parsley and chili peppers that I
could find….and made the first batch right before I left…..and
it’s a hit!
The blending of the herbs is all done by hand in 5 gallons
batches….Margarita and Lourdes helped me as I made the first
batch….I almost killed us all…the aromas were so intense we
started choking…..eyes watering…the whole nine yards…..so next
attempt…I bought masks….we looked ridiculous but it worked. Since
my departure I’ve heard that they have ditched the masks and are
making smaller batches….but let me warn you…it’s intense!
Once I made it I realized it would be the perfect seasoning to use for
a dipping oil….use our Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil and our 6
Year Old Balsamic with a small amount of the seasoning….it creates
that spicy oil that everyone seems to love…and you know that we
believe it’s better to add your own ingredients for dipping rather
than buying oils with stuff in them…..better quality control…..and
you can also sautee the seasoning in our olive oil and toss it into a
spaghetti….finish it with parmesan cheese and you have a meal!
If you want to check it out, you can go to our website and see the
product…it’s called Dipping Oil Herb Blend
or we put together a kit that is called Attention All You Dippers [
I challenge you now to take some time out of every day and practice
………L’arte d’arrangiarsi!
Posted on January 30, 2009 - by napavalleybath
Ribollita – Vegetable Soup
Ribollita is a hearty, thick Tuscan soup with soft textures….it is really all vegetables with only the gleam of the cooking water.
I love this dish because of the flavors and the nutrients…and also because traditionally, you make a batch and then heat it up later…seasoning again with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Ribollita really means “reboiled”. I love anything that I can prepare early!
Ingredients
- 10 1/2 oz. Dried Cannellini Beans….soaked overnight
- 2 Celery Stalks – trimmed and chopped
- 2 Medium Red Onions – peeled and chopped
- 1 lb. Swiss Chard – washed, trimmed and sliced
- 1 lb. 12 oz. Kale or Savoy Cabbage – washed, trimmed and sliced
- 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste
- 9 oz Country Style Bread – cut into 1/4 inch pieces
- St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil view product
Instructions
-
- Drain the soaked cannelini beans and put them in a large saucepan. Cover with plenty of water and bring to a boil. Remove any “scum” that comes to the top of the surface. Lower heat a bit and cook for around an hour or until beans are tender. Make sure the beans are always covered with water..add more if necessary. Oh…don’t forget to add some sea salt half way through…..our grey sea salt would work great…just a couple of big pinches.
- In a stockpot, saute the onion and celery in the Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil until soft. Add the Swiss Chard and Kale or Savoy(in Tuscany they use Cavolo Nero) and saute a little longer…again until soft.
- Cover the ingredients with 12 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the tomato paste and sea salt and pepper. Now, lower the heat and simmer for around an hour and 15 minutes.
- Put the bread pieces on a tray in the oven until they are very dry. Remove and put aside.
- Drain the cannellini beans and keep about a cup of their cooking water. Puree half of the beans with that cooking water. Add both the puree and the rest of the beans to the stockpot in the last 10 minutes of the total cooking time. Now you can just mix in the bread but traditionally you put a ladleful of the soup into a large soup dish….add some bread….and then ladle some more soup….then bread….until everything is combined.
If you need a little more moisture you can add hot water. But, remember, it’s not a traditional soup…it turns out like a bowl of stewed vegetables.
LAST STEP…….DRIZZLE WITH GENEROUS AMOUNTS OF OUR TUSCAN EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL…you can use Sevillano as well….the Napa Valley oils may be a bit big for this but if you are into the stronger flavors then give it a shot!
I’ve noticed in Florence they add different ingredients of the season…the last dish I had included potatoes…..feel free to mix in anything that is in season!
Let me know how it goes!
Posted on January 29, 2009 - by Leslie Billera
Aromatherapy 101: What the Nose Knows
It’s time to delve deeper into aromatherapy.
We already introduced you to chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé, the father of modern day aromatherapy. But what can aromatherapy do for you?
For starters, here’s a definition we like:
Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of
utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants
to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.
-The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
Scents and Sensibility
Pure essential oils – the building blocks of aromatherapy – are taken from flowers, leaves, stalks, bark, rind, or roots. Aromatherapy, or as it is sometimes called, essential oil therapy, is applied either:
- Topically: applied to the skin either via massage or baths
- Directly Inhaled: breathed in deeply
- Aerial Diffusion: oils evaporate into the air for pleasantly scented air or for disinfection
Scent immediately goes to the brain and elicits a response. A signal is sent to your brain’s limbic system, which controls emotions and retrieves learned memories. This then causes chemicals to be released which makes you feel relaxed, calm or even stimulated.
Popular essential oils and their related aromatherapeutic benefits include:
- Basil - Sharpens concentration; alleviate some depression symptoms; headache and migraine reliever.
- Bergamot - Useful for urinary tract and digestive tract; good for the skin when combined with eucalyptus oil.
- Black pepper – Stimulates circulation; aids muscular aches, pains and bruises.
- Eucalyptus – Relieves cold or flue by opening airways; commonly combined with peppermint.
- Jasmin – Offers aphrodisiac qualities.
- Lavender – Heals minor cuts and burns as an antiseptic; relaxer; relieves headache and migraine symptoms; sleep enhancer
- Lemon – Lifts moods, relieves stress and depression.
- Tea tree – Provides antimicrobial, antiseptic, and disinfectant qualities. Commonly used in mouth rinses.
- Thyme – Helps with fatigue, nervousness and stress.
There are about 150 essential oils to choose from. Whichever one you choose for aromatherapy, make sure it’s made from natural, pure, raw and ideally organic materials. Synthetic oils are never an acceptable substitute.
Posted on January 29, 2009 - by napavalleybath
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino
One of the oldest ways to dress pasta was with olive oil and raw garlic….later peppers were added…to create this simple and very classic Italian pasta dish.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. spaghetti
- 3 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/4 cup chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
- 1 – 2 Teaspoons of red pepper flakes
- Organic Grey Sea Salt
- 1/2 cup of St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Tuscan extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Posted on January 23, 2009 - by napavalleybath
A Doctor in Florence
Hello!
It’s been a crazy week since I last wrote….the good news is as I write today…..do I dare say…..again…..we are settled!
The biggest issue was Emily’s adjustment…her first few days atschool were overwhelming….even for Emmy! She would come home in adaze and just collapse into bed…..and then she got sick…..real bad cold and really weak….so….I was immediately thrown into the class on finding a doctor in Italy….I was dreading the process for obvious reasons and much to my surprise it ended up being quite pleasant….as pleasant as going to the doctor can be…
I found a Dr. who studied in London so we didn’t have to deal with the language barrier. And…they make it very easy…..most doctors still make housecalls….and they have open office hours every day…..so….we simply walked about 5 minutes from our house and went to the open office hours and were seen very quickly. It remindedmy of how my parents have always said it “used to be”……we walked up four levels of a winding stone staircase….through massive wooden doors…into a small reception area. We were immediately seen and invited to sit on the other side of the Doctor’s beautiful wooden desk……he talked to Emily about her symptoms….discussed various things with us……and then said heneeded to examine her….so she got up…..I turned my chair around the other way….and we were in the examination room. He checked all the usual things and then he walked back to his desk…..I turned my chair around and he went through what it could be and what it wasn’t. At the conclusion….he ordered labwork….every blood test that you could imagine….Emmy hasn’t been very healthy since her bout with Mono last summer…..he assured us that he thought she would be fine….but wanted to take the precaution.
He also explained that the lab was very efficient…..for Italy. He explained in detail how we should get there….told us where to line up and how it would all work….and then said we would have to go back
to pick up the labwork…..once we had the labwork….we would come to his open office hours again and he would let us know how it looks….it was comforting to be part of such an old fashion
process….no waiting for your doctor to call when your lab results come in…because at home they never seem to call…..and then you call them….and you wait on the phone…and you get passed
around…..and you get frustrated and hang up…..and then you do it all again…and finally you get through….and they tell you your fine….and you hang up the phone….and you don’t feel that great.
The Doctor then reached for his tablet…..scribbled somethings down on it….ripped it off and handed it to me…..and these are a few things she will need from the pharmacy….go our my front door and it
is the first door on the left. As I got up to leave….he ripped off another piece of paper….and said….. it will be 45 euro….cash only….I smiled…paid him cash and off we went.
Sure enough…the door left to his entrance was the pharmacy. We were immediately helped my the pharmacist who took the perscription….filled the order….and rang us up…31 euro…..for eye drops and nose spray….not bad….and off we went…and they say we are more efficient in the U.S.?
The next day…..Emmy got up and we hurried to the lab…it was fasting blood work so I didn’t want her to realize that she wanted breakfast….on entering the lab, we were greeted by a “concierge”…an attractive older woman in a blue suite withe the name of the lab on it….good branding….she looked at our note from the doctor and told us in detail…..in Italian….where to go….luckily hand signals are universal so we walked to the reception area and got in line…..reminded me of an older bank….the line in a zig zag….with receptionists at about six stations helping customers…..the line went quick and we handed over our paperwork…..she immediately started processing our work and then began to speak very beautiful Italian….from the look on our face she must have realized that we were Americans…because she immediately turned to her counterpart and asked for assistance…..in their broken English and my Very Broken Italian…we managed to finish the paperwork…..pay our 105euro….yes for all that blood work….that is total cost!….and head up stairs to have blood drawn.
We walked into a smaller reception area and were immediately greeted by the nurse. Again….with simple words…we communicated…..she gave Emily the option of sitting in the chair in the waiting room or going into a room to lay down….Emmy chose the bed…..the nurse was very sweet and quickly took Emily’s blood without a sound…..she then asked Emily…..”cafe?….do you like cafe?”..Em said…”no”….I was wondering what she was talking about….why would she care if Emily liked coffee?…then she said….” cioccolata….you like?”…Emmy smiled and said yes….and the nurse left the room. I thought that was sweet….she was going to bring her a chocolate….the next thing I know the door flies open and a woman….much like the concierge…walks in with a white porcelain tray and coffee cup filled with hot chocolate and some toast on the side…..I wish I would have had my camera….are these people amazing? Do they take advantage of every moment to enjoy life…food….moments…..and how nice that felt…..wow…..and how great for Emily…still adjusting to this culture and the language….to be treated with such kindness….that picture will stay in my mind forever…and as simple as it may seem….it will serve as a reminder to me…..that life is much more than agendas….efficiencies….operations…..life is about respecting moments….and to error on the side of moments would truly be fatal….because at the end….it’s all we will have.
So…I will write more about the week because it was filled with great things….and Emmy’s return to happiness…but for now…my girls are home….and there are moments to be had….til tomorrow…..
Ciao.
Posted on January 23, 2009 - by napavalleybath
Zuppa Di Ceci or Chickpea Soup
Zuppa di ceci….or Chickpea soup is another amazing cold weather soup….can you tell I’m having issues with the cold….I’m bonding with soups like I have never done before!
This is an “Emmy’s Choice” …. my picky vegetarian loves her Italian soups! It is perfect because it is full of nutrients….very hearty…add salad and garlic bread for a meal!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 2oz. Dried Chickpeas….soaked overnight
- 2 Carrots – peeled and chopped
- 1 Celery Stalk – peeled and chopped
- 1 Medium Onion – peeled and chopped
- 2 Garlic Cloves, peeled
- 3 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary
- 1 Small Dried Red Chili
- 3 1/2oz. Swiss Chard, trimmed and sliced
- 5 1/2oz. pureed tomatoes….Muir Glen is my favorite if nothing fresh
- Country French Bread…..sliced
- St. Helena Olive Oil Co. Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil buy product
Instructions
Again..there are many variations that we have come across…..Emmy’s favorite was when they added a bit of pasta to it….
Buon Appetito!
Posted on January 20, 2009 - by napavalleybath
The Inspiration for Napa Valley Bath Co.
Lavender is the inspiration of our entire bath line. Many years ago, I was traveling and came upon a small boutique in the South of France…it was filled with everything lavender…so beautiful…there were baskets of fresh lavender flowers….small home spun containers of various lavender products….the lingering aroma of lavender was intoxicating!
When I came home I embarked on a study of lavender….determined to create the purest line of products that I could imagine….I fell in love with the plant just as I had done with the olive tree many years before….and now, years later, I am proud to offer the purest line of products….based on lavender….that I could formulate.
Breath deep!
Posted on January 18, 2009 - by napavalleybath
Welcome to Napa Valley Bath!
Thank you for subscribing to our email list.
We promise not to inundate you with emails and will do our best to make them informative, fun and useful.
Pace. Peggy
Posted on January 16, 2009 - by napavalleybath
I should have named her after her grandma….Florence!
Kaelin just skipped out the door to meet her new friends for dinner and a sleepover…she met them up the street at Piazza Repubblica….as if she was headed to Main St. in St. Helena…..she has acclimated easily…helps to have english speaking friends and school…but there is something about Kaelin and Florence…she is at home. I have never seen her so carefree…..confident….jovial….She is a great kid and always happy but here…she glows…she has a skip in her step…she comes home everyday with interesting things that have happened or perspectives she hadn’t had before…her World has opened up….already!
Everything is new and exciting…and challenging here….take for instance….school supplies….now we all know how to get school supplies right? Well…not so easy here…there is no Target….and no one seems to know what we are taking about when we ask….for school supplies that is…not Target! …yesterday, when Kaelin and I were walking home from our haircuts we passed the numerous cafes and clothing boutiques when Kaelin shouted out..’Mom..school supplies!”..a store about the size of a walk in closet was squashed between a shoe store and a cafe….and they had binders and paper and pens and ink cartridges and planners….not a lot mind you as they had no space….but enough to satisfy Kaelin’s requirements….we were very proud of our find! I’m sure there is store full of supplies somewhere…..but for now we seem to just be feeling our way around the City….and we’re getting there….day by day!
So I think it is safe to say that Kaelin is all set!
Posted on January 13, 2009 - by napavalleybath
Dinner Conversations……
Great dinner….most came from a little cafe on our street… la spada…..they know us there now…K went with me….we stopped at our little market as well…..and then a new hole in the wall to get Em’s mars bar. Don’t know what happened but mid meal Emmy came alive….she was herself again…..talking about funny things at school et al and joking and laughing….such a relief…I enjoy her funny personality…I’ve missed her! She talked about how they had “gym” and had to run the perimeter of the school for 6 minutes…she said they would run and as soon as the teacher would turn her back they would stop…..somethings surpass language barriers.
K thinks she may want to go to college over here….she says we are so isolated in the USA….funny….perspective……but its so different being here…..so many countries are accessible….and all the kids in her school have traveled alot…she learned today that a lot of them are children from military people living in Pisa….about an hour away….:)..she mentioned they may all go to dinner this Sat…..acclimating quickly!
“Beauty is Not Caused. It Is.” –E.Dickinson–
Welcome. This is the voice of our latest creation, napa valley bath. Inspired by the organic lavender grown in the Napa Valley and a six month hiatus in Florence, Italy, we created a bath and body line that is good for you...corpo, mente e anima. We aim to inform...inspire...and provide you with products that allow you to simply soak it all in.....
Pace.
Peggy O'KellyFlickr Photos
