In the summertime, when we are all blessedly swimming in fresh tomatoes, whether homegrown or from the farmers market, we eat our fair share of tomato sandwiches, salads, and the like. But what else can you do with fresh-off-the-vine tomatoes?

This year, we have something new to do with those gorgeous, juicy orbs. It’s my simple pasta alla checca.  Checca is a sauce that doesn’t have to be cooked, can you believe it?  No heavy, cooked meat sauce here. This is something completely different. Simply grab some tomatoes, fresh basil, and garlic and do a little chopping. The only thing that needs to be cooked is your pasta. Talk about a quick summertime meal!

(I made this with Jennifer Hines on KLTV last week. See the video here.)

Not only is it simple to make, it’s also packed with flavor! The basil is so fresh and delicious, the tomatoes…