Garden Fresh Recipes - Linguini with fresh Tomato Sauce

This particular garden fresh recipe came from a summer 2009 edition of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  (Seriously, I do get BH&G every month in the mail, but only because it was free with my mom's subscription.  Although most of the content bores me to death, they are actually some really great recipes so it's worth it just for those.)

Anyway, this one caught my eye last year because I was trying to grow both tomatoes and basil, two of the main ingredients.  Of course last year my tomatoes were a big 'ol FAIL, so I never got to try it, but we made it recently and it was good.

Linguini with Fresh Tomato and Basil Sauce

10 ounces linguini
1 and 1/2 cups of diced tomatoes
1 cup of whole basil leaves
4-6 tablespoons of olive oil (personal preference)
 3 cloves chopped garlic ***
1/2 cup chicken broth (or pasta water)
Pinch of sugar
Grilled chicken (optional)
Parmesan cheese


1. Heat the water for the pasta.

 
2. While the water is heating, dice your tomatoes, basil, and garlic, and set aside.

 

3. Put your chicken on the grill if you want to have chicken, and put your husband (or another person) in charge of the chicken.

4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.

5. Add garlic and saute for two minutes.

6. Add tomatoes and basil and stir.

7.  Add chicken broth and sugar. Stir again.

 It should look something like this!

8. Drain pasta.  Add pasta to the olive oil mixture and mix like you're stir-frying it. Stir until it's all thoroughly heated.

9.  Serve pasta on a dish and add the chicken that your loved one just finished grilling, and VOILA!

10.  Add parmesan cheese if you're not lactose intolerant!

My two cents on this meal:

1. Chopping everything in advance and having someone else worry about the chicken was key to making this a quick meal for me.  I was totally stressed and rushed when I did not have these two things in place.
2.  This dish has a relatively mild flavor, but it's also a really authentic, healthy tasting flavor.
3. Next time I make this I will probably double the tomatoes and the basil.  We were really craving more flavor. 

*** If you're allergic to garlic like I am, you'll have to substitute garlic powder, which I am sure is not the same.  It's sad...