Serves 6
Cook 1 lb dried fettuccine in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions. Meanwhile, reheat 4 cups of homemade tomato sauce in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Snap the woody ends off a bunch (about 8 oz) of asparagus stalks and discard. Slice the stalks finely with a knife (or use a food processor), leaving the tips whole. Add the sliced asparagus and the tips to the sauce and simmer for about 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in a few fresh basil leaves, if handy. By now your pasta should be cooked. Save a cup of cooking water before draining the pasta. Quickly add the fettuccine to your sauce and toss, adding splashes of pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
Serve with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a grating of fresh parmesan cheese.
What is an approximate porition size? Adults = 1 cup of cooked pasta + ½ cup of sauce. Kids ages 2 to 11 = ¼ to ½ cup of cooked pasta + ¼ to ½ cup of sauce, depending on child's age, size, and activity level.
