BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. 8 a.m.

GULP GULP GULP, water.

Olfaction. Coffee in cup. Black, no sugar. Faucet on, searing. Dried, dressed and ready. Wallet? Keys? Phone? Out the door. 10 am-“good morning” “hello.” 5 pm- “see you later.” G train. Walk. Bus. Front door. Home. Repeat.

The repetition of who we are, what we do, and where we go can get so tired. As you grow up and life becomes something that you have to tackle, we have to remember to romance ourselves.Why eat the same homemade meal every night for it is convenient, fast, and familiar?

When I am in the kitchen, I want to feel the excitement of newness. Even if it is just trying out a simple weeknight spaghetti sauce. I just want a taste of that feeling you got the first time you put your toes in the ocean. The tiniest sliver of the realization that there is this thing, this mass of emerald green water, you never experienced before. Because during those moments, you forget about your worries. All you have to do is add your freshly ripped basil and stir.

As you stand over the stove, your bones begin to thaw from the icey cold. The tightness of your winter flesh loosens with your first slurp off of the red coated wooden spoon. You go in for another, completely forgetting about any obligations you previously made because all you plan to do at that moment is enjoy.

Fresh & Simple Pasta Sauce

1 teaspoon of thyme
6 freshly chopped basil leaves
Enough pasta for two servings
Generous amount of salt and pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil
Three cloves minced garlic
1 small onion
2 tomatoes
12 ounces of multi colored tomatoes(or cherry works)

Begin by removing all innards of the tomatoes. You only want to be using the flesh for your sauce.
Once they are all seed free, cut into small chunks...or large if you'd prefer- set aside .
Mince garlic & onion
In a large pot begin to boil water for your noodles. Add salt to the water and once it is boiling add noodles until they are ready to eat- drain.
Heat oil over medium high heat and once it moves around the pan with ease, add garlic and onion.
Allow for the flavors to fuse, but make sure your pan isn't too hot because you don't want for the two to burn.
Add a pleasing amount of salt and pepper.
Once the two are translucent, add your chopped tomatoes.
Allow for them to stew for about 15 to 20 minutes over low heat.
Once your tomatoes have lost their shape and turned into a thick sauce, stir in your fresh basil and thyme.
Give this amazingly fresh sauce a taste and add whatever you feel necessary- Maybe more herbs, possibly some salt.
Plate your noodles and sauce. Relax & enjoy.