Fresh Tomato Basil Pasta

     Here is another quick and simple recipe that can be done in no time (and in fact, one I did in 30 minutes after we spent the evening shopping). This is a simple pasta with fresh ingredients tossed in for a flavorful accompaniment/sauce.

Ingredients:
1/2 package of pasta (250-300 grams) We used bow ties this time
7 medium tomatoes (1/3 to 1/2 a kilo)
1 bunch basil
250 grams fresh mozerella
drizzle of olive oil
1/2 lime
salt and pepper
parmesan cheese

Step 1: Start the water for the pasta and while it is heating up, cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds from inside. You can keep that little stiff bit that they are attached to, but take out all the watery seeds. Remove the tough bits at the top and set the rest of the tomato aside.

Step 2: About the time that you toss in the pasta to the boiling water, start chopping up the tomatoes into smallish chunks (1 cm or a little bigger than a 1/4 inch) and toss it all into a bowl and set aside. Take all the leaves and tender parts of the stems off of the basil bunch and roughly chop it and set into the same bowl with the tomatoes.

Step 3: Drain the pasta and let stand in the colander for the minute that it takes you to cube the mozerella. Return the pasta to the pan and drizzle olive oil on it. Add the tomato and basil to the pasta and put on freshly ground pepper and a bit of salt to all of it and stir. Add the juice of the lime half to the pasta mix and add the mozerella and give it another couple of stirs so it looks smooth and well mixed.

Step 4: Serve it in a bowl and sprinkle it with grated parmesan and tada, its done and ready to eat!

We had it with a little bit of white wine (Riesling) and some rahkapiirakaa for dessert. Mmmmmm tasty!