Luscious Tomato Sauce with Penne

This is the most restorative Pasta Sauce I have ever made!

If you have had a long hard day at work or your mentally exhausted, this is the one pasta recipe you will want to try. I guarantee it will help relax your mind and body fast. Combined with a glass of delicious red wine, you will feel the tension ebb out of your body and you will sleep like a baby.

When I used to travel for long weeks at a time - often after I returned home - this was the one pasta dish that I came to rely on to help me unwind quickly.

The secret ingredient of this sauce is the butter!

This is a very easy sauce to make and there is something meditative about the process of occasionally stirring the tomato sauce while taking small sips of wine.

Ingredients

1/2-3/4 box Penne or mini Penne - Barilla has nice ridges which helps to hold the sauce

1 28 oz can Cento Brand Plum Tomatoes. Used crushed if that is all you have on hand.

1/2 stick salted cold butter cut into cubes - Kerrygold is my favorite

2 cloves of fresh garlic - mashed or you can use refrigerated 1 heaping Tbsp. of the tubed garlic available in most grocery store produce sections. Do not use jar garlic.

Pinch red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

2-4 large chopped shallots - or 1 large yellow onion.

3-4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Parmesan cheese - grated

Parsley or Basil - chopped

Directions:

Prepare the tomato sauce first.

Quick Tip - Puree the can of tomatoes with a hand blender Or you can just pour them into the saucepan and break the plum tomatoes with a masher or spoon as the sauce heats.

Please use a high sided saucepan or dutch oven. Place on medium high heat. Add the olive oil and when the oil is hot add the chopped shallots or onions.

Saute until lightly golden in color - approx 5-7 minutes.

Add next the crushed garlic and saute for one full minute - no longer.

Add next the red pepper flakes and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Stir into the pan next the plum tomatoes. If you have already crushed simply add into the pan. Add a small amount of tap water into the empty can and add into the saucepan.

Once the tomato sauce begins to simmer reduce the heat to low and leave the saucepan uncovered. This is key to a great sauce.

Simmer the tomato sauce for 45 minutes.

Quick Tip - Every 10-12 minutes stir the sauce. As the sauce reduces be sure to scrap and incorporate any thickened tomato paste that forms on the sides of your saucepan into the sauce.

Do not worry about the sauce evaporating away. It will be perfect.

When the sauce has simmered 45 minutes prepare your pasta water and cook according to the box directions. (you can use any kind of pasta but for this sauce I think Penne is wonderful).

After dropping the pasta into the boiling water - slowly add the cubed cold butter into the tomato sauce while stirring. After the butter is fully incorporated you can add in a small handful (or more) of either fresh chopped parsley or basil.

As well at this time you can add a small handful of the grated Parmesan cheese.

When the pasta is done simply remove the pasta with a slotted spoon and add directly into the tomato sauce. A little bit of the pasta water will help loosen the sauce. Add as much or as little as you like.

Before serving - taste the sauce and adjust as you wish. I sometimes will want more cheese or more parsley or basil.

For ultimate comfort serve your pasta in a warmed bowl with a warm crusty french baguette on the side.

ENJOY!