A few weeks ago, my mom lost a necklace. A very important and dear necklace. We spent hours looking for it: retracing her steps, moving furniture, combing her car. The necklace was no where to be found. She was distraught. I was heartbroken.
Lost things deeply move me. They unsettle me. They annoy me. I will spend hours trying to recover a lost item (even if it’s of little significance.) But this necklace meant so much more. I love my mom, and I could see the pain in her eyes and hear it in her voice. I wanted nothing more than to find it, to restore it to her, and yet I felt completely powerless after two days of frenzied searching. But we let it go, because what else can you do?
On Thursday, I was asked to share a painful part of my own story. I struggled with a severe eating disorder for many many years, and only recently have I started to talk about it publicly. The days leading up to my “post date were wracked with a nervous energy. Should I share? Should I not share? What in the world was I thinking? How could I lay bare such a fragile part of my story?
And then, on Thursday, a cool fall morning, I went outside with Lucy to grab our mail. I had posted my story only a few minutes earlier, and my heart was racing as I thought about all the people who would be reading it…all the judgments that could quickly ensue. As I walked back towards our house, I saw it–the golden necklace. There it was, in the middle of our sidewalk, bare and beautiful and whole.
I have no idea where that necklace came from. We walk up and down that path all day long, and I know, without a doubt, it wasn’t there the day before. Somehow, a good two or three weeks later, my mom’s necklace had been found.
And as I picked it up, I realized that although my story had its own season of loss and struggle, it also had a beautiful moment of restoration. Just like the joy and shock and gratitude I felt when I found that gold locket. And so I held my mom’s necklace in one hand and my daughter in the other arm. I shared my story, and I’m so happy that it’s meant something to people. If you’d like to read it, you can find it here. And then I’m also going to share this roasted vegetable tart with you because the seasons are changing and this was a lovely way to welcome in fall.
Caramelized Vegetable Tart
1 disc pie pastry (for a single crust)
1 red onion
1 red bell pepper
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons butter
Sea Salt
2 ounces Gruyere Cheese, shredded.
Parmesan Cheese for sprinkling
In a large skillet, melt butter. Add onion and red pepper and cook, over medium heat, for 15-20 minutes, until soft and beginning to caramelize. Sprinkle with sea salt. Set aside to cool. Then, in a medium bowl, gently mix together sautéed vegetables, cherry tomatoes, and gruyere cheese.
On a lightly floured surface, roll pastry into a 13 inch circle. Carefully transfer pastry onto parchment-lined baking sheet. Spoon vegetable mixture over pastry to within 1-1/2 inch of edges. Fold up edges of pastry over filling, leaving center uncovered.
Bake at 450 F for 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Losing something as special as jewelry can really be heartbreaking. And, as you said, totally frustrating.
I read your piece yesterday and I want to respond… Because it was beautiful and honest and something that really moved me. Thank you for sharing and for your openness.
This would make a great lunch with a bowl of cheesy onion soup 🙂 o man…I am hungry!
Thank you sharing all that you shared – I feel deeply touched by your writing and I am in awe of such openness and honesty!
I am also very happy that you could find your mother´s treasured necklace – and your recipe for this beautiful fall tart is just perfect – it looks amazingly delicious and comforting at the same time!
Thank you for all you do and hugs and kisses for Lucy!
Andrea
Oh my gosh, Monet. You know I already read your story and was moved and I am just even more amazed by how brave you are. How wonderful you found your mom’s necklace, and how wonderful that you found happiness <3
Monet, your honesty is truly inspirational, and I admire you so much for sharing such a private part of your life. I can’t imagine how freaked out you must have been when you hit “publish”, but you’re going to end up touching a lot of people dealing with the same issue, and I love you to death for it. So glad you found the necklace too! Funny how things work out…
What a beautiful story! Lost things really bother me, too, especially when I see other people in pain over them. So glad the necklace was found and your story was told 🙂
Also, I’m loving this lovely tart!
I once lost one of the very few pieces of jewelry I own – a pearl earring that Phil gave me on our first wedding anniversary. It was missing for over 3 years when I found it – it probably flew off my ear when I took my shirt off last time i wore it, and it landed inside the closet, getting caught inside a heavy coat I almost never wore. I cannot tell you how much I searched for that earring, having the second one staring at me to remind me of the loss….
I found it when we emptied that closet to repair a broken shelf…. amazing, isn’t it?
Great post, and of course I shared your text on the eating disorder on my Facebook page.
I read your story over the weekend and it was incredible. Thank you so much for sharing and helping so many people. And I am so glad you found your mom’s necklace 🙂
This totally happened to my mom too! Last summer she lost the diamond out of her engagement ring, which wasn’t just a diamond but also a family heirloom. A month later, she found it on the front porch of their house…she almost vacuumed it up off their front door mat. And people had been walking in and out of the door for a whole month without seeing it! Glad you found your mom’s necklace. 🙂
Also, thank you for sharing your story…very brave, and very beautiful.
As I read this post I hoped that the necklace would turn up and I’m so glad it did. Not just for your mom but also for the encouragement it gave yo to share your story. My husband lost his wedding band shortly after returning from our honeymoon. We looked everywhere but finally gave up and even picked up a new band. Shortly after this he found it peeking through the little hole of our bird feeder, resting atop the seeds. It must have slipped off his finger when he poured birdseed into it. 🙂
This gorgeous tart is just the thing to enjoy for fall.
Ooooh I am making this. I have everything in my fridge right now.
I am so glad you found the necklace. Those types of things weigh so heavily on me as well.
I just love I get to see your beautiful that your heart and spirit in every piece you write. I can totally relate to the pain and frustration you feel over losing something. I’m so happy you found the courage to share your story with the world, as well as found the necklace. It’s funny how life works itself out, isn’t it? And now I gotta go make a vegetable tart…
Lovely post. How utterly fantastic to find your mom’s locket . . . I can only imagine how happy you were to spot it! Sometimes lost things really do have a way of finding us again . . .
And this tart looks amazing and so, so pretty!
Thank you for sharing your story.
I have lost my fair share of precious things. it’s such a terrible, stomach sinking, feeling.
What a beautiful post, Monet! You’re very brave sharing your story, and I know it will help many people. No judgments…only support! I’m so glad you found your mother’s necklace…she must’ve been overjoyed! 🙂
I got so caught up in your story that I forgot to comment about this beautiful tart, and how much I wish I had a big slice for lunch right now! 🙂
Oh I am so glad that you found the necklace! I had a friend who lost a very very special necklace back when we were teens … and then it turned up probably about a week later in my backyard (in a place where we know we had already looked). Amazing. And seriously – you are amazingly brave for sharing your story friend.
And this tart looks absolutely delicious!
This precious post gave me a little cry, and then I read your other story and cried some more. Your story is such a wonderful one of emotion and healing and vulnerability. I am so happy you found your mom’s necklace and so, so awestruck by your story. Thank you for sharing my friend. xx
And I almost forgot, your tart!! I love this combo of veggies and gruyere! Delish!
Monet,
You have shared another touching story from your life. So thank you for your openess. I am so happy that you found your Mom’s necklace. I have lost or misplaced many things, so I know the angst that you and your Mom felt.
The Fall Vegetable Tart is a great way to use the fresh vegetables, before they disappear.
Give Lucy a hug for me!
I loved reading the story. I was moved by it, and I know so many others were too. It can be so scary to open up about hardship and struggle, but I think it ultimately helps us in the healing process, and, more importantly, helps others know that they’re not alone. Little Lulu is such a gift, and what a nice sign from the universe for you to find your mom’s beloved necklace. 🙂
Damn delicious and comforting savoury bites!!
the photographs is stunning too my friend, good job!
I hate lost things too, but sometimes when you stop looking and give up hope is just the moment you find it. I’m so glad you did find it. And I’m going to read your story right now. It was very brave of you to share it!
What a gorgeous post. This reminds me of the story I hear every time I visit my boyfriend’s aunt and family at their cabin by the lake. My boyfriend lost his chain necklace he JUST got for his birthday when he was swimming in the lake. They looked for days, diving under the dock, swimming everywhere around the area, but no one can find it. So they bought him another one which he has never taken off except for when he goes to water parks (those slides apparently can snag on jewelry ), but even to this day, his aunt and her husband go searching, often times in scuba gear, to try to find it.
On a more yummy note, this vegetable tart looks amazing! I have never made a savory tart before, but I am hoping to try it out soon.
This was such a lovely post, Monet! I even got chills when you said that you found the necklace! Your writing really is so beautiful 🙂 I think it is great that you came out and spoke about your story and so awesome that you found your mom’s necklace! This vegetable tart also looks amazing and I’m so excited about the changing of the seasons!
Thank you for sharing your story, it was moving and inspiring in so many ways. I’m glad you found your happy ending despite the huge obstacles you faced and now have your health back and your precious daughter as well.
Monet:
Telling your story will hopefully help others with similar problems. It was moving and I think you are amazing!
Re the necklace: who knows why things like this happen? I lost a ring I loved and didn’t find it for years, until I moved, emptied the ice machine and there it was, sitting in the bottom.
Love your tart…so healthy and it makes such a lovely presentation!
So happy for you that you’d found your mom’s necklace, I too would be too for the rare times when I managed to find lost things which I love very much….that tart looks so wonderful and the color of autumn…awesome!
So much beauty in this.
I love the idea of adding vegetables. This would be so lovely, and I am sure would taste amazing. Such a fun and delicious dish for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner! Yum, Hugs, Terra
Thanks for sharing such an intimate story, Monet. I am sure your honesty will give many people hope, as they struggle with their own tough issues!
Love your gorgeous vegetable tart…mouthwatering!
So glad you found your mom’s necklace. Bill’s dad lost a treasured ring a few years before he passed away. Months after his death, Bill was still mourning, but found the ring in the middle of the sidewalk much like you did. It gave him peace as he took it as a sign from God and his dad that all was well. I have a feeling you were getting the same message. I’m grateful your journey brought you to the place where you could heal…and that you were blessed with your beautiful daughter. xo
I got totally lost in your story Monet.. it was moving.. I am so glad you found your mums necklace. . The tart looks delicious. . 🙂
I am so, so happy for you, teary with you over something so precious found just when you needed it most. XO
This tart looks absolutely delicious, and I am so glad you found your Mom’s necklace. I’m heading over to read your post now, and I am certain that you have approached the topic in the same beautiful and sensitive way that you do all your writing, and I am sure that your sharing will help countless others.
It’s wonderful that you found the necklace, and it had a happy ending. Your tart looks and sounds delicious. I missed your story so am off now to read it.
Wow!! This looks so yummy!! What a great recipe for fall!! perf with a lovely salad for lunch 🙂 LOVE it!! YUM!
You’re such a big sharer, and thanks for that! I work with girls that have eating disorders and I am always interested to hear about personal experiences so I can understand theirs more, as it’s not always easy for them to talk about it.
This looks so incredible! Loving the caramelized vegetables, I genuinely can’t think of a better base to enjoy them on!
Oh this tart looks absolutely divine!