Dinner Recipe

This is the best pasta dish that I've ever had, EVER.  And I live on pasta.  Mom made it for me and I've made it twice since.  If you don't love it, I'll kiss your...  something.  Maybe.  

I think it came from Giada de laurentiis' Everyday Italian.  I like her even though she is too beautiful to be true.

Persephone's Perfect Pasta (Yeah, technically it isn't mine, but I gave her credit, right?)

12 oz cherry tomatoes, halved  (I use grape tomatoes!)
3 scallions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, microwaved for 10 seconds, diced
1 oz (who am I kidding?  I used more than 1 oz.  It's cheese!) parmesano reggiano, grated
8 fresh basil leaves, chopped
3 Tbsp olive oil (Yeah, I probably used more than this, too.  Judge me.)
4 oz. (Pfft.) fresh mozzerella cheese, cubed
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1pkg. spaghetti, cooked

Chop all your ingredients and put them in a large bowl.  Let them reach room temperature...  then add the hot cooked spaghetti.  Toss & serve.  My family eats this as a meal with salad, but the non-vegetarians out there can pair it with a piece of grilled chicken and it's TO.  DIE.  FOR.  Best thing about it right now is that it doesn't heat up the kitchen.  Man, it's hot here.

Mom says, and I agree wholeheartedly, that the quality of the ingredients that go into this is what makes it SO good.  You could use dried basil and grated mozzerella from the package and the Kraft grated parmesan, but instead of OMGWonderful!  It will probably just be...  meh.  For me, I've had it the good way, I'm not taking any chances!  Also, mom says that cooking the garlic a little in the microwave takes some of the 'Oh, my gosh, that's garlicky' flavor away.  I'm paraphrasing, here.

Anyway, enjoy!

And.... does anyone on the f-list speak French?  I'm learning, and need some websites that might help me along.