Can I just chop up a tomato and throw it in a pan with olive oil and garlic and basil? Will that work to toss on top of pasta?

Yes. If you have time, roasting the tomato first (cut in half, place cut-side down on a foil-lined baking sheet, sprinkle with salt pepper and olive oil, bake at 350-400 until soft and squooshy and a little browned, about 30-45 minutes) will concentrate the flavors and make for a richer-tasting sauce.

What Jess said, about the tomato-roasting. It's yummy.

The current National Geographic magazine has a nice big article on Bollywood. Those folks are hotties.

I don't know if I can wait 30-40 minutes to roast a tomato. I'm pretty hungry now.

P-C, Vidhi sounds like the sort of kid you'd expect to see on TV one day, crawling out of a well and then crawling out of the screen to come after you.

Ha! Oh man. I fear for how that kid's going to turn out if her parents don't damn well discipline her.

and Hec and Nonian want spoilers.

Hil, what everyone else said. Tep, yes. t pause Now I am hungry and boys got delayed. Something about a flight and something else about god. I'm not ready yet so I said it was okay. But damn I am hungry.

Something about a flight and something else about god

So it's either delayed by a storm or something, or a great glowing presence appeared in the cabin and everyone started speaking in tongues. Could throw travel plans awry.

If you're too hungry to do the roasting thing Teppy, start the pasta first, and just do the tomatoes the last few minutes before the pasta is ready. It sounds much better than the tuna sandwiches we just had for supper.

or a great glowing presence appeared in the cabin and everyone started speaking in tongues.

Actually I think it is a minor weather thing that will just throw off connecting flights. And my uncle is busy talking shop with some of his collegues until the uncle-in-law arrives here.

Their cheese and crackers? Mine...