Neapolitan

While letter writing is not long for this world, calligraphy might just have two feet in the grave. So I was delighted to discover Etsy seller Neapolitan, who combines the two with her gorgeously stylish hand-lettered notecards. The shop's Three Greetings Noteset ($29 for six) bears the words Many Thanks, Best Wishes, and Cheers to You, all sentiments that will never go out style, in a perfectly simple charcoal gray and white palette. Neapolitan also recovers classic volumes like the Dictionary of American Proverbs and Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar in fine Italian marble paper with calligraphy titles. If chevron zig zags, dapper stripes, or snakeskin prints are your thing, there's a wonderful selection of everyday stationery to suit your tastes.

I don't take advantage of them too often, but lazy Saturdays are the best. Not only because I'm at home enjoying doing nothing, but also because my favorite shows on KQED, San Francisco's public television station, all happen to be on: Check, Please!, Made in Spain, Lidia's Italy, and Secrets of a Chef.

Recently the boy and I were watching an episode of Lidia's Italy in which she prepares a Neapolitan version of mac and cheese. Her recipe called for ditalini in lieu of macaroni, smoked provola instead of American or cheddar, and bacon, potatoes, and diced tomato. We sat there in captivation, practically smelling the sizzle of smoked bacon vaporizing in our living room.

We were so tantalized that we drove to the grocery store to make it immediately, with the notes I'd taken while watching the show as our guide. It tasted just as good as we'd hoped. Later, I got my hands on the book for the written recipe. Want it? Read more.