Simple or Sensational

Method


Preheat the oven to 240 degrees.  Cover a baking tray with foil (this is not a real step in a recipe, but I have included it so that you don't curse me when you are trying to scrub charred tomato off your baking tray).  Spray tray with cooking spray.  Cut the tomatoes and place cut side down on the tray.  Bake for four hours, add the garlic to the tray and bake for another 35 minutes.   Remove the tomatoes from the oven, an place in a saucepan.  Mash slightly and add salt to taste.  If your tomatoes are not very sweet you may need to add the sugar, but taste first.  You can blend the sauce if you want a smooth consistency, or leave it chunky, totally up to you. I like to simmer the sauce for a little while (say twenty minutes) after it has baked, but you may not need to.  Add basil.

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.  If you are making it yourself (it's actually not that hard)  or if you have bought fresh pasta, you will need to cook for much less time than if you are using dried.  Drain the pasta, reserving a little of the pasta water.  Mix the pasta and the sauce and if the sauce has become too thick, add a little of the reserved pasta water.

This is such a basic pasta and sauce recipe that you can add whatever you like to it (just make sure to add the calories if you are counting).  Shrimp is lovely,  fresh or dried chill, mushrooms, artichokes......the list is endless.