Lady of Leisure

THURSDAY was my first day in 17 years that all my children were at school at once and all day.  My friend, Jennifer, teased, calling me a lady of leisure.  I replied that I don't have the budget to be a lady of leisure.  I was more like a stay at home mom/maid.  Lady of leisure sounds like a socialite, pampered mother with perfectly done nails.  Not me.

But I thought a lot about that lady of leisure as I cleaned and organized the piles in my neglected bedroom.  I leisurely thought about it...  Suddenly, the morning had past.  The bedroom cleaned and organized, and then it was time for lunch.  I am a lady of leisure.  Jennifer, I get it!

Here's what this lady of leisure makes herself for lunch.

Perfect angle-hair pasta with tomato sauce and sauteed zucchini.  All freshly picked from my garden. Martha Stewart, the ultimate lady of leisure, taught me this one. 

2 T plus 1/4 t of salt
1 1/2 pounds of Roma's or one 28 oz can Italian plum tomatoes
8 oz pasta,
4T extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves pressed or cut into 1/8 in thick pieces
1/4 t crushed red-pepper flakes
1/4 fresh basil or parsley leaves, loosely packed and torn
parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Boil water, adding 2 T salt, add pasta and cook according to package.
If using fresh tomatoes, blanch them and remove skins and cut into 1/4 pieces or smash them up.
(Martha would take the cores out, take the seeds out, and not smash them up.  But remember she is the ultimate lady of leisure)
Then in a 12 inch saute pan heated on medium, add oil.  Add garlic to pan.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is lightly golden, 30 seconds.  Add red-pepper flakes and remaining 1t salt.  Cook until garlic is medium golden, 1 minute.
Increase heat to high. Tilting pan at an angle, add tomatoes on the top portion of the pan so it doesn't splatter all over you.  Cook, swirling pan occasionally, until tomatoes begin to break down, 5-6 mins.  If sauce starts to get too dry, add a little water from the pasta.
Drain pasta and add to sauce.  Stir in basil cook a few more minutes.  Sprinkle with cheese. 

This is simply the best!  Let's do lunch some time...