It’s busy, busy, busy at work so an easy dinner was called for!  Also poor Colin was working late so not in until 9pm meaning we didn’t want anything too heavy, but definitely needed some tastiness.  Laziness directed me to the ready made pasta section at work and I bought some little tortellini men- light but full of flavour (have I been watching too much Masterchef!), taking only minutes to cook!  With it I made a good tomato sauce- a French Thomas staple, so here’s the recipe….

The French Thomas Standard Sauce

1 small red or white onion, chopped

splash olive oil

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2/3 hot red chillis, split open but left whole

100ml marsala, or a glass of dry white wine

6 fresh tomatoes, chopped and hard core removed

1 tin chopped tomatoes

salt & pepper

• heat the oil in a large saute pan and add the onions, garlic and chilli.  Sweat down for 5-10 mins on a low heat until the onions are soft and translucent. 
• add the marsala or wine to the pan and let it bubble down, reducing it by half.
• add the fresh tomatoes and tinned tomatoes, stir and season.  Let it bubble slowly for about 40mins.

You could use 2 tins of tomatoes instead if you don’t have any fresh tomatoes around.  You could also add some herbs if you like- some basil at the end maybe, or some thyme for the last 5 mins or so.  This is the basis to so many of the dinners we make- delicious with fish, perked up with some spices, but most often eaten with pasta as my ultimate comfort food.  Yum!

Tomorrow it’s Good Friday but I am working late- that really does not seem right!- so no dinner for me, and a chilli for Colin.