Creamy Tomato Alfredo Sauce

Finally! My first recipe post is going to be of one of mine and my husbands favorite dishes. We had it this last friday for our at-home date night because he and my son were sick.

Creamy Tomato Alfredo Sauce

SOURCE: Kitchen Trial & Error

Alfredo sauce adapted from cooks illustrated

30 minutes, serves 4

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For the tomato sauce:

• 1 1/2 lbs fresh tomatoes (about 9 med)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 c minced fresh basil
• olive oil

For the Alfredo Sauce:

(if you want to lighten it up, halve the Alfredo and keep the tomato sauce the same)

• 1Tbsp unsalted butter
• 2Tbsps flour
• 3/4 c milk
• 1/4 c half and half
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled, and crushed
• 1 c grated parmesan cheese

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1. Bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta. (1/2 pound farfalle or other short cut pasta - I like to use the raviolis that you find at Costco instead)

2. Start the tomato sauce. Bring another large pot of water to boil. Score the bottom of the tomatoes, then blanch in the boiling water for about a minute.  Cool instantly in ice water, then peel. Discard skins.  Roughly chop tomatoes and set aside.

3. In a small sauce pan, sweat the diced onion and garlic in about a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until soft.

4.  Add the tomatoes to the onion and garlic.  If you want thin sauce, blend the sauce with an immersion blender. Cook for about 15 minutes until thickened.

5. While tomato sauce thickens, add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions.

6.  While the pasta and tomato sauce are cooking, make the Alfredo sauce.  Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Whisk in the flour until smooth and cook for about 2 minutes, until browned.

7. Whisk in milk, half and half, and garlic and season with salt and pepper.  Continuously whisking, bring to a simmer and cook for about 2 minutes until thickened.  Fish out the garlic with a slotted spoon and discard.

8. Whisk in the parmesan.  The sauce will be very thick, so add 1/3 cup of the hot pasta cooking water to the Alfredo sauce to thin it out a bit.  Remove form heat.

9.  Drain the pasta and add to the Alfredo sauce.

10.  Add basil to the tomato sauce and add to the pasta.  Mix well and serve.

I know that my finished picture is not as pretty as the first original picture.. but I'd thought I'd give myself a pat on the back for trying anyway. I promise it tastes amazing!!