What's Cookin'?

     Once upon a time, I hated to cook.  No...I HATED to cook. There, that's better.  It should be in all caps.  My husband used to say that the best thing I made was reservations.  And he was right.  But then he got sick.  Really, really sick.  Like in the hospital for 5 and 1/2 weeks and out of work for 22 weeks with 2 less feet of colon when he was better, sick.  That's sick, people. 

    So anyway, I started praying for ways to serve my family.  Really serve them. God, being God, decided that cooking more and certainly cooking better, was one of those ways.  He's always right and He's always good.  And sometimes I wonder if He picks the things we're bad at, to stretch us and make us stronger.  Even if it's cooking... 

    Here's what's cooking at our house tonight:   Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce...seriously, this stuff is so good it almost hurts to look at it.

Here's the recipe:

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 3 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 cans (15 Ounce Each) Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• Dash Of Sugar (more To Taste)
• 1 cup Heavy Cream
• Grated Parmesan Or parmigiano-reggiano
• Fresh Basil, Chopped  (don't you dare use dried!!!)
• 1-½ pound Fettuccine

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
Heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Pour in tomato sauce and add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Stir and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and stir in cream. Stir until completely blended! Add cheese to taste, then check seasonings. Stir in pasta (don't pour the sauce over the noodles...mix the noodles into the sauce) and chopped basil and serve immediately. (Thin with pasta water before adding basil if needed.)


Make it.  Just do it...you'll thank me later!