“Hey Melissa, we have some exciting news! Will you send me your email address?” The message was in my Facebook inbox from Ian who works at Saveur. This must be the meanest scam ever, I thought. I sent my address anyways. In my email inbox the next morning was the craziest email of my career. I guess that’s what you call this thing. A career. “Congratulations, you are a finalist for the Best Style & Design Blog category for the 2017 Saveur Blog Awards.” My hands trembled. They’re still trembling. I took a screenshot of the email as proof and sent it to Kev and my sister.
My sister then confessed to nominating me, which sent a flood of tears. She’s always been my biggest supporter. She makes so many of the recipes here, messages me with major grammar errors, never laughs at my blind ambitions, and nominates me for awards far out of my league. But I think I must owe a thank you to more than just her. Based on statistics, I imagine that someone reading this now also nominated me on their own initiative. My voice is trembling too. Thank you.
I often remind people, friends, who tell me they’re nervous to invite me over to dinner because I run a blog with a lot of recipes, that I hired myself. I bought my own URL and enlisted myself as boss. And then I hired myself to design our home. Talk about lack of credentials. I owe a huge thank you Saveur too for real credentials. PS—this should have no bearing on inviting me over.
I thought it would be fitting in light of this award, to acknowledge someone who has inspired me from the earliest blogging days by both her food and style, Karen Mordechai from Sunday Suppers. She does simplicity so well. It was her mini pot pies that inspired my love of pot pies and using white wine in sauces. It was also those two-tone ceramic cups from that post that sent me on a long hunt for something similar. I never found them, but fell in love with enamelware in the search.
To celebrate this news, I made Karen’s beautifully simple recipe from her new book Simple Fare. As my college English professor always said, nothing is created in a vacuum. Neither was my design style. It’s a reflection of so many people who have also inspired me.
One final thank you. Thank you for believing in me. It has great weight in my personal life and career (I guess we’ll just call it that). Never underestimate the power of believing in someone. If you’d like to vote for me, head this way.
This recipe is a light adaptation of the Lasagnette in Simple Fare by Karen Mordechai of Sunday Suppers. Lasagna noodles tossed in a simple tomato sauce and topped with plenty of parmesan and cracked pepper—this is a celebration of the simple things.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Sauce
28 oz. can San Marzano Tomatoes (I prefer Muir Glen)
1/4 c. olive oil
2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. pure cane sugar
Pasta
8 oz. dried, flat lasagna noodles
Garnish
freshly grated parmesan reggiano
a couple cracks of pepper
fresh basil
Instructions
Make the sauce. In a small saucepan, add the tomatoes, oil, and salt. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the sugar and cook for an additional 5 minutes to help neutralize the acidity. For a smooth sauce, use an immersion blender or high-powered blender to reach desired consistency. Return to pan.
Meanwhile, make the noodles. In a sauté pan filled 2/3 full of water, or a pan wide enough to fit the sheets of pasta, bring to a boil. Salt liberally before adding noodles. Cook according to package instructions until al dente. Once ready, add noodles into the sauce and cook for a second more before plating.
To serve, plate 3 to 4 noodles. Garnish liberally with parmesan. Add a sprinkle of cracked pepper and fresh basil. Serve.
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So well deserved!!! Not ashamed to admit that a Saveur nom is a total dream of mine. I think you’re a perfect pick and absolutely in the big leagues on this one. XOXOXO
Such fabulous news, and so well deserved! Your design aesthetic is so simple and perfect, and easily relatable to so many of us. Such beautiful inspiring stuff over here Melissa, huge congrats on the nomination. Voted!
Your blog is very worthy of the finalist category! Congratulations! You’re an inspiration for everyone thinking about giving up a 9 to 5 job to follow their passion! You have my vote.
The biggest congratulations to you!!!! This nomination is well deserved. You have a world of supports, cheerleaders, and fans. Thank you for being so unique and creating such a warm, inspirational space!
Although I have more of an Arts & Crafts eclectic style, I often find inspiration from your blog. It’s good to be reminded to keep it simple by your clean, clear lines and straightforward (delicious) recipes. Kudos on the nomination!!
That’s so exciting! And what a great recipe! I had some Boursin cheese in the fridge, so I added a few dollops. Yum!
Woohoo! Big congratulations to you, Melissa & well deserved. This is incredibly exciting! <3
So well deserved!!! Not ashamed to admit that a Saveur nom is a total dream of mine. I think you’re a perfect pick and absolutely in the big leagues on this one. XOXOXO
You’ve always got my vote 😉
SO deserved. <3
Congrats! That’s awesome! Just put my vote in. 😉
Congratulations! That is such fabulous news. Your recipes are so inspiring you deserve it!!
Such fabulous news, and so well deserved! Your design aesthetic is so simple and perfect, and easily relatable to so many of us. Such beautiful inspiring stuff over here Melissa, huge congrats on the nomination. Voted!
Your blog is very worthy of the finalist category! Congratulations! You’re an inspiration for everyone thinking about giving up a 9 to 5 job to follow their passion! You have my vote.
So much excitement for you. You are an inspiration and create so much beauty in so many ways. I’m so full of joy for you!
Congrats! Well deserved nomination 🙂
Also the lasagnette looks soooo yummy!
The biggest congratulations to you!!!! This nomination is well deserved. You have a world of supports, cheerleaders, and fans. Thank you for being so unique and creating such a warm, inspirational space!
I’ll never understand how I got so lucky. Thank you, Jess!
How exciting!! Congratulations and definitely well deserved!
Congratulations and you’ve got my vote!!
congrats that is so exciting! enjoy the moment and I hope you do win 🙂
Although I have more of an Arts & Crafts eclectic style, I often find inspiration from your blog. It’s good to be reminded to keep it simple by your clean, clear lines and straightforward (delicious) recipes. Kudos on the nomination!!
Thank you so much for writing. I love the detailed beauty of the Arts & Crafts style. There’s so much warmth.