There are times here at ONK that Scientist is home for lunch with no leftovers to eat (it’s rare but it happens).  I can always make PB&J but somedays you want something better.  As it’s only lunch I don’t want to make what I have out for dinner because by the time ComputerNerd gets home from work it will be cold, and hours old.  I also do not want to spend half my day making lunch, so it’s obviously going to be pasta.

I truly dislike store bought red sauce but it will do in a pinch.  Yet in about fifteen minutes I can make a pasta dish that is one hundred times better than pasta with store bought red sauce.  Pasta a Olio.  Oil, garlic, fresh herbs, some tomatoes, and a little parmesan cheese.  It packs a lot of great flavor in a really simple dish that won’t take you hours to prepare.

Ingredients

• 3-4 Tbsp Olive oil (use a very flavorful oil)
• 2 cloves of garlic coarsely chopped
• 1 Tbsp dried basil
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes (I use grape tomatoes that I halve, but use whatever you like)
• 2 oz dried pasta (prepared as instructed on box)
• A generous handful of parmesan cheese

Heat the oil over low heat.  Add the garlic and saute for a couple minutes, just to infuse the flavor into the oil.  Add red pepper flakes and herbs.  Sauté to infuse the oil with the flavor of the herbs.  Add the tomatoes and the pasta, tossing them in the oil and cook.  Stir constantly, to prevent the pasta from browning, until the pasta and tomatoes are heated through.  Top with cheese and voilà you just made lunch.

This will make one serving but can easily be scaled up.  Add some cooked italian sausage and make it as a quick dinner.