The Water Boils

My mom, now in her 80's, is one of those legendary Sicilian cooks.

Family and friends still salivate at the mere thought of a dinner invite. The daughter of Sicilian immigrants, her repertoire was never vast, but reliably changed with the seasons. Her style was to always use time tested recipes requiring the freshest ingredients and an intuitive sensibility. At her side I learned to love preparing and sharing meals.

Her 'hook' was trusting me with testing the pasta. At first she would ladle two pieces of pasta from the boiling pot and offer one for me to taste, "Is it done?" Soon enough she trusted me to be the official taster. I felt pretty special as a kid to be able to declare, "the pasta is done"... or "two minutes more." An honor I delighted in passing on to my own children.

I don't believe she ever owned a cookbook. A working mom, she planned her meals for the week well in advance. She rarely surprised us by straying from her Sicilian influences.

A working mom myself I'm more the planning-dinner-on-the-drive-home-from-work type. The intuitive skills I learned at my mother's side serve me well.
This is my favorite simple pasta sauce for any evening when I arrive home famished AND exhausted. This literally takes minutes to prepare and is so very satisfying.


Simple /Quick Pasta Sauce
1 large can Italian plum tomatoes, coarsely chop the tomatoes and reserve the juice.
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Extra virgin olive oil
Fresh basil, chopped
Splash of red wine
Coarse salt to taste
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Optional: coarsely chopped oil cured olives

Heat oil. I still prefer my cast iron skillet to any other pan for making this sauce.
Add chopped garlic. Lightly brown.
If you haven't already put your apron on... this is a good place to stop for minute to do that. The tomatoes WILL spatter in the oil. Most of my T-shirts are evidence to that.
Lower the heat and add the chopped tomatoes followed by the juice in the can. Add salt and pepper, a splash of wine. Cook over low flame for about 10 minutes. Add chopped basil and olives.

I keep a supply of good quality ravioli in the freezer for quick meals like this. But pasta will do just fine.

Sip some wine. Make a salad while the water boils.
I’m always grateful I didn’t call out for pizza again.