TOMATO, ONIONS AND BASIL SAUCE WITH PASTA

The other night I wanted to make a quick and easy supper.  Using ingredients from the fridge and garden I made a simple pasta sauce.  The ingredients can vary depending on what you have in the fridge.  One ingredient that is a treat to have on hand is fresh basil.  I have three basil plants growing in the garden and with the summer heat they are growing well.

The sauce included fresh basil from the garden, onion, peppers and tomatoes.

Vegetables sauteing in the frying pan.

Ready to serve.

INGREDIENTS:


1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 small orange or yellow pepper, chopped
4 small tomatoes, coarsely chopped
handful of fresh basil, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 pound of pasta such as spaghetti or linguine

DIRECTIONS:


In a medium size pot, heat water (half a pot full) to a boil.  Add the pasta to the water  and reduce the heat to medium.  Cook until al dente and then drain the pasta.  Set aside in a serving bowl.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium size fry pan to high heat, add the onion and garlic, reduce the heat to medium low and saute for three to four minutes.  Add the pepper and tomatoes, combine the ingredients in the pan and continue to saute for five minutes.  Add the basil and salt and pepper.  Cook for another minute and pour over the pasta in the serving bowl.  Combine and ready to serves.  Makes 4 servings.

Note: to thinly slice the basil, I take the handful of basil leaves and roll them together like a cigar.  While holding the basil leaves in one hand, I thinly slice the leaves using a serrated knife.