Roasted Tomato Pasta ...For the Ladies

This is my take on pasta alla puttanesca, that salty somewhat spicy pasta that legend tells the ladies of the night would make.  Mine isn't a quick sauce, but rather a roasted one which highlights the saltiness of the olives and the sweet freshness of the tomato.  You may worry that the sauce is too salty, but after combing with the pasta, you'll see that it's perfect!

2 pints small cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 Tbl tomato paste
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 heaping Tbl minced garlic
1 cup kalamata olives
8 anchovy fillets, packed in oil and finely chopped
2 Tbl capers in brine
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
1 Tbl chopped fresh oregano
1/2 cup sliced fresh basil leaves
10 ounces dry pasta

Stir the tomato paste into the wine until it dissolves.
In a 9 x 13 inch glass or ceramic baking dish, combine the tomatoes, wine an tomato paste mixture, garlic, anchovies, olives, crushed red pepper, capers and olive oil.
Roast the mixture uncovered for about an hour at 350F until the tomatoes start to soften and wrinkle a bit.
Cook the pasta according to package directions just before the sauce is finished.
When the sauce comes out of the oven, use the back of a slotted spoon to "break up" a few of the tomatoes.
Stir the oregano and basil into the sauce and combine with the hot cooked pasta. Serve it up nice and hot!

Basil

For me there's no comparison between fresh and dried basil.  I grow 10 -12 plants in the summer and usually have a plant in the garden window during the winter. I harvest it all summer, puree it in the blender with olive oil and then freeze the puree in ice cube trays.  Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store in freezer bags.  If you don't grow basil try to find a few large bunches now while the price is reasonable.  Just put the leaves in the blender and slowly add the oil until the mixture purees.( I can't give you exact amounts -I've never measured!)
Throw a cube or two into pasta sauces, minestrones, and other soups and stews.
Thaw out a few cubes and process with pine nuts and parmesan to make pesto.

A taste of summer all year round!

Patty Pan

I found patty pan squash at the market the other day. Tonight I'll halve them and roast them with olive oil, garlic and basil at 450F for about 15 minutes.