Pasta with Corn, Tomatoes and Basil

Our summer has barely begun and I've already got a severe case of "summeritis." Haven't heard of it?  Summeritis is a serious condition I develop every summer that results in an aversion to cooking hot meals.  I crave hearty, vegetable based meals but I don't want to turn on my oven or stand at the stove stirring hot sauces for hours.  I've also chosen to live in a climate where cooking dinner outside on the grill becomes a sweaty, uncomfortable experience in May.  

So what's a girl with summeritis to do?  Quick and easy summer meals packed with garden fresh vegetables and energy boosting carbohydrates.  I try and make them as light as possible because you know - it is bathing suit season after all and no one wants to see my food baby after I've devour an entire pizza.  🍕👙

This Pasta dish is an absolutely perfect summer meal.  I've got heaps of fresh basil in my garden and I couldn't think of a better way to use it than to combine it with some home grown tomatoes and perfectly ripe corn on the cob.  I love this dish and I didn't even break a sweat while I was making it.  👍🏻

Pasta with Corn, Tomatoes and Basil
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
3 Tablespoons salt
4 ears corn
4 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup onion, minced
1/2 jalapeno chili, minced
12 ounces campanelle
​1 cup fresh basil, sliced

Stir together tomatoes and 1/2 t. salt. 

Slice corn from cobs.  Save the cobs.

Bring 2 1/2 quarts of water to a boil.  Add cobs and 1 T. salt.  Cover and cook 10 minutes on medium.

Remove cobs and discard.  Melt 2 T. butter in skillet.  

Add corn, onion, chili and 1 t. salt and cook 5 minutes.

Stir in 1 1/2 c. cooking liquid.  Cook 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened. 

Bring remaining cob water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente.  Reserve 1 c. water.  Drain pasta. 

Add pasta to skillet and cook until coated - about 2 minutes adding reserved water as needed. 

Remove from heat.  Stir in 2 T. butter, basil and tomatoes.  Season with salt and pepper as needed. 

I love the kick of the pepper in this pasta.  Dial it up with more jalapeno or take it out completely for a kid friendly version.   Half of a seeded pepper was the perfect amount of "heat" for my family.  We gobbled up this summer meal up in no time. 

​Ciao!

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