Tomato Sauce and Sean

While going to school in NYC, I lived with Sean. I don't know why- everyone told me not to. But. Sean was my first love. Remember the bench in front of Loeb Hall at Parsons? It is where I caught Sean's eye and the rest is history.

Even though the world around me told me not to move from the dorm and if I did, don't move in with Sean.... I did anyway. (And everyone now knows that they were right, I shouldn't have). It is amazing what love will make you do the first time around. Sean was a fashion design major and had the imagination and the drive to put together some of the craziest projects I've ever seen. He would frequent the clubs, all dressed up at midnight and quietly become famous among the club kids.

We never had any money, of course. I worked at Urban Outfitters, on top of my work study program and going to school full time. Eventually I picked up a part time job at Alphabets too, which was a fun, little store in the East Village selling crazy t-shirts and useless novelties.. As soon as the paychecks were cut, they were cashed and spent. We barely made rent every month on our ridiculously expensive studio that was the size of a walk-in closet.

Sometimes, it was cheaper to just get McDonald's cheeseburgers. They were only 79 cents and if we each got one and downed a glass of water after, we wouldn't be hungry until the next day. Or at least we pretended not to be hungry. Sean loved to cook, which at that point in my life, was not even on my radar. He had this ability to suddenly become a French chef and whisk up an omelet that you could eat at a 5-star restaurant. One of the best things he ever made for under a dollar was his tomato sauce which he served with plain penne pasta. He would take a can of tomatoes, some fresh mushrooms, a piece of leftover onion, a piece of leftover pepper and some herbs and spices and viola! Of course anyone can put this together, but he would serve it beautifully with a dollop of ricotta, if he had some or a chunk of mozzarella in the middle. If this was a special occasion, it would be served alongside a mixed green salad with homemade dressing.

Penne with tomato sauce may seem like a very simple dish. It is. When you're going to school and haven't a penny to save, it is amazing how delicious something so simple can taste. When you're eating fast food and inexpensive lunches, everything begins to taste the same. This tomato sauce with its fresh vegetables sparked my taste buds.