one-pan pasta possibilities are endless

Tom doesn't get my fascination with things that cook in one pot. It is a serious love and I have already talked about it once in the course of my magazine challenge and it is coming up again. I am over the moon about this new recipe and have planned a bunch of variations already. It has revolutionized weeknight pasta for me.

This recipe is coming to you from the June issue of Martha Stewart. The most important thing you need for this recipe is a large straight-sided skillet. You want high straight sides that will hold the water you will need to add. I doubt this would work in a pot because the water wouldn't evaporate at the same rate. The only prep that takes much time is slicing the onion and garlic. Dinner is on the table 10 minutes from when the water boils.

For a such a simple recipe it creates a pasta dish with amazing flavor and a creamy sauce.

Add 12 ounces of pasta to a pan. I don't know where the Martha Stewart people buy their pasta but most stores sell pasta in 16 ounces. So if you find yourself in this predicament just divide the pasta into 4 equal parts and use 3 parts.

Add one onion thinly sliced and 4 cloves of garlic thinly sliced

Add 12 ounces of cherry tomatoes. If your tomatoes are larger you could cut them in half before putting them in the pan.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flasks, basil, 2 Tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of salt. I added extra red pepper flakes because we like it spicier.

Add 4 1/2 cups of water and turn heat on high.

Once the water boils toss pasta with tongs and keep a close eye on the pan until pasta is al dente and water has nearly evaporated, about 9 minutes.

Serve with grated cheese, basil for garnish and enjoy.

You can find the official recipe, a video and some other reviews on the Martha Stewart site.

Want to change this up a little here are some of the ideas I came up with that I plan on trying.

• Make recipe above don't add red pepper flakes, add more basil and serve with fresh mozzarella balls for a caprese pasta
• Use only 6 oz of tomatoes and add 6 oz cubed zucchini 
• 3 or 4 minutes before pasta is done add some shrimp
• Add a can of tuna at the end for some added protein
• Add peas and garnish with crispy bacon or pancetta

The possibilities are really endless and they would all be done in 20 minutes start to finish. If you think of any other please share them in the comments.

If you love one-pot meals as much as I do check out this link for a few more recipes you might love.