Tomato Sauce

..... this couldn't be more simple, like falling off a log. Here is a very quick and easy mid week meal - the old favourite - pasta with tomato sauce & a salad...... so

30 minutes before eating :

Peel & chop the tomatoes. (See tip below)

Get your salad leaves organized - wash & spin them (or open the packet.) If you are going for a mixed salad prepare the other vegetables.

Put water for pasta on to boil with a little salt & a teaspoon of olive oil. Water boils faster (more energy efficient) if there is a lid on the saucepan.

20 minutes before eating :

Make the almost instant tomato sauce.

Almost Instant Tomato Sauce

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 medium onion, finely sliced

4 or 5 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded & chopped (See tip below)

3 tablespoons of butter*

1 teaspoon sugar

salt

dessertspoon of tomato puree

a good pinch of chilli flakes - suggested but not essential & if you wish - freshly chopped basil - as much as you like, up to a cup full.

*I know some people are frightened of butter so you can reduce the amount but it will taste better with the full 3 tablespoons.

The method is very straightforward:

Put the onions and the white wine in a saucepan & place over a fairly high heat until the liquid has reduced to about a couple of tablespoons. During this process, give it an occasional stir.

This should be about time to add the pasta to the boiling water.

Cook the pasta as per the instructions on the box - start your timing once the water has returned to the boil.

Add to the onions the tomatoes, butter, sugar, a good shake or generous pinch of salt, the tomato puree & the chili flakes.

Bring to a gentle boil, stir & simmer for about 15 minutes.

While the sauce cooks get your salad into it's bowl. A good idea is to put the dressing in the bottom of the bowl & put the leaves on top. This means that the salad won't go soggy while you're getting the rest together. Toss the salad when you serve it to distribute the dressing.

If you are using basil then stir into the tomato sauce at this stage and remove from the heat.

Strain the pasta into a colander & give it a good shake to get rid of extra excess water.

Put the pasta on the plates, add a good dollop of tomato sauce & top with some parmesan cheese.

Serve with salad on the side.

TIPS

How to peel fresh tomatoes -

Put some water onto boil.

Score (a shallow cut) a cross in the bottom of each tomato. Place in a bowl. Pour enough boiling water onto the tomatoes in the bowl to cover them. Count to 20...... slowly.... Pour the hot water off the tomatoes & run cold water over them until they are cold. Leave the tomatoes sitting in cold water as you peel them. Once peeled do not put in water.

Removing the seeds from tomatoes -

The easiest way to do this is to cut the tomato into quarters & squeeze the seeds out. You'll soon get the hang of it as it soon becomes pretty obvious where the seeds are in the tomato.