the visiting kids {and accompanying adults} came home famished from the amusement park a couple of nights ago (don't you love summer)? there was very little time to prepare a meal, so i made a quick and easy tomato basil sauce and served it with pinwheel pasta and a baby kale salad. within minutes the big bowl of pasta was empty, and i was feeling quite appreciated!

easy tomato basil sauce:

• 1 large onion, minced (cubed in small sized pieces)
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed & minced
• 2 cups stewed chopped tomatoes in a jar-i use the parmalat brand (or ripe roma tomatoes, cubed)
• extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt, pepper (i use red pepper flakes) to taste
• 1 large bunch fresh basil
• 1 small bunch fresh or dried oregano
• freshly grated parmesan cheese

heat about 1-2 tbs olive oil in a saucepan, then add onions and garlic and sautee until just golden brown. add the tomatoes, sea salt, pepper, and oregano and simmer for about 10 minutes.

add the basil, stir, and simmer another 5-10 minutes. add another dash of olive oil and a few fresh basil leave just prior to serving.

add to the cooked (al dente) & drained hot pasta, mix well and serve piping hot sprinkled with good freshly grated parmesan cheese. you will have happy kids. and adults.baby kale salad:

• fresh organic baby kale
• thinly sliced cabbage
• fresh organic cilantro leaves
• cubed ripe roma or whole baby tomatoes
• shallot vinaigrette-see recipe