Cesar Pasta

I love pasta - not particularly for how it tastes; sure, it tastes good, but I love it because its so easy to make. Ingredients are simple, prep is quick, and if you botch it up just add enough cheese and you'll be okay.

Finding Italian ingredients used to be a problem - and still is, in some places.. so I usually substitute with local or dried herbs.

Todays recipe is a spin-off on something I originally saw in a book called "Fast Pasta". Excellent book, but the ingredients are a tad too exotic in most of the recipes. This one is quite good on one of those hot summer nights.

Ingredients:

Dry Pasta (Any).. 250g
Tomatoes.. 4 big ones, chopped
Tomato Puree .. 1/2 pkt.
Onion.. 1, chopped
Garlic.. 4 cloves, minced
Button Mushrooms.. 10 or more.. quartered
Bacon, de-rinded.. 100g, chopped
Chicken Sausages (optional).. 2 nos, cut into small pieces
Parsley (optional).. a few sprigs
Chilli Flakes .. 1 tsp.
Olive Oil .. 1 tbsp.
Salt and pepper .. to taste

I used Penne, but I think Spaghetti would be ideal. In which case make sure the bacon is cut in longer strips.

Method:
Into a little olive oil in a hot saucepan, sautee onions and garlic. When onions turn translucent, add bacon and fry till a little brown. Add tomatoes. Stir. Add tomato puree, bring to a boil, and reduce flame to low heat. Add sausages, chilli flakes and parsley. Add salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or till tomatoes are well blended into the sauce.

On covering start boiling water for pasta (new pan, of course) and cook it according to instructions on cover. Al dente :)

Add cooked pasta to the sauce, mix it delicately in the pan till the sauce coats the pasta. Sprinkle Parmesan on cheddar cheese on top and serve.

Of all the things, I found Kokam juice an excellent accompaniment. That's a personal choice, of course..

Make it today. I can guarantee you, girls will love you for it. Guys.. well, they'll eat anything with meat in it. Cheers!