Pasta Time

My first post is something that is a super easy meal that is both comforting and fresh.  Like Mark Bittman said "I'm lazy, I'm rushed, and I'm not all that skillful" so in that spirit I like to keep thing simple.  This only has a few ingredients that are readily available at any supermarket (even here in Portugal).  Of course like most of the things I make there is plenty of room for free styling and alteration.

Penne with fresh tomatos and basil

Ingredients:

Penne Pasta (of course you could use any pasta you like)
1 Can of diced tomatoes (i like to get them with garlic if I can)
1 Cup of grape tomatoes cut into quarters
1/2 onion diced
4 cloves of garlic diced
Oil oil
bunch of fresh basil cup up
1/2 tsp sea salt
dash of pepper
dash of red pepper flakes (depending how spicy you like it)
Ricotta cheese

Directions:
Over medium heat, heat up about a TBSP of olive oil in a pan and add the onions.   After about a minute or so toss in the garlic.  Wait about 30 seconds and add the canned tomato and fresh tomato.  Add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and stir it all together.  As soon as it starts to bubble cover and reduce the heat to low.
Boil some water for the pasta.  Throw in a little sea salt and your pasta.  Don't over cook the pasta!  Huge pet peeve of mine.
Drain the pasta and combine with the sauce and fresh basil.
Plate it up and add a dollop of ricotta and a leaf of basil on top.