"Quercia Bella" Farfalle with Broccoli Rabe, Olives, and Capers

(Excerpted from The Broken Heart Diet)

My Nonna once knew a girl named Antonella, the most beautiful girl in the town of Bagheria, Sicily. She was set to marry a young man named Lazzaro whom she had fallen in love with the first time she saw him. Antonella was so happy and exuded such joy and calm that the people of the town called her Quercia Bella, Beautiful Oak, because of her majestic stature.

But the week before the wedding, it was discovered that Lazzaro had gotten another girl pregnant. The expectant girl's family insisted Lazzaro marry her (or face disembowelment) and Antonella was left behind, heartbroken.

She was devastated, and for two years was so wretched that she became skinny as a bird's leg and her face became permanently tear-stained. The once-beautiful young woman was now called Ramoscello Brutto, Ugly Twig, by everyone in the town.

Antonella tried everything to extirpate the sadness in her heart. She prayed for healing and when she got no satisfaction from God, she tried amulets, charms spells, and conjurations of every kind. Still she remained crushed under the weight of her broken heart.

Until one day Nonna was visiting her cousin in Bagheria. She saw Antonella and asked, "Quercia Bella, what has happened to turn you to Ramoscello Brutto?"

The young woman, who had heard of Nonna's healing powers, explained the situation. "If you can help me, I will become your disciple and attend to you the rest of my life."

"I cannot help you," Nonna said.

Antonella cast her gaze to the ground. "Then I will be forever hopeless." She began to walk away.

"I cannot help you because you do not believe you can be helped. You do not believe your heart can heal."

"But I have tried—"

"No amount of effort or desire can heal you if you do not believe you can be healed. For the next three days, go to a quiet place and bring yourself to believe you will recover from your broken heart. After that, come to me and I will help you."

Antonella did as she was told. On the fourth day, she found Nonna who looked deep into her eyes. Nonna smiled. "Now I can help you."

Nonna made for Antonella butterfly pasta, farfalle, with broccoli rabe, capers, and olives. "The butterflies to remind you of life's beauty and the possibility of transformation," Nonna said. "The bitter broccoli rabe and strong flavors of the capers and olives to remind you that though not everything we experience is sweet, life is to be savored, even in its bitterness."

Antonella took one bite and was cured. The next morning, she arose, Quercia Bella, once again.

If you have tried everything you can think of and are still having trouble overcoming your heartache, try this pasta and remember that until you truly believe you can heal, nothing will cure you.

Ingredients

1 12 oz. box of farfalle pasta
1 bunch broccoli rabe, trimmed and chopped
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced
3 Tbsp capers, drained
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tsp red chili flakes
2 tsp salt
Freshly grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano for serving

Preparation

In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Add 1 tsp of salt and farfalle. Cook until al dente, about 10–12 minutes.
While the pasta cooks, steam broccoli rabe until wilted, about 3 minutes (you can also boil the broccoli rabe for 2–3 minutes)
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium and add garlic. Cook until translucent. Be careful not to let it brown.
Add wilted brocolli rabe to the skillet and stir for about 2 minutes.
Add olives, capers, red chili flakes, and 1 tsp of salt to the broccoli rabe and cook for another two minutes
Drain the pasta thoroughly and add to the skillet, stirring to mix all the ingredients together.
Serve with freshly grated parmiggiano reggiano.