This is one of the nicest homemade italian tomato sauce recipes, especially great for summer when fresh sweet tomatoes are in season.

Tasty pasta sauce recipes are plentfiul, but this one starts with oven roasted tomatoes, a delicious twist on the old favorite.

So easy to make. Just pop the tomatoes in the oven with a few seasonings and leave them to roast.

The extra flavor that comes from the roasting makes this a recipe you will use over and over.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 70 minutes

Ingredients:
1 3/4 pounds plum tomatoes (about 12)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley, divided
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, divided

Directions:
Cut the stem end out of the tomatoes, then cut them in half lengthwise. Place the tomatoes cut side up in a 9"x13" baking pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In small bowl combine the garlic, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup parsley and 1/4 cup basil. Spread over the tomatoes.

Bake in a preheated oven at 425° for about 70 minutes or until the tops of the tomatoes are slightly charred.

Squeeze the pulp from tomatoes into a bowl, discarding the outside skins. Coarsely mash or chop the pulp. Stir in the remaining olive oil, parsley and basil. Pour over cooked pasta.

Sprinkle with Parmesan or Romano cheese and there you have it - one of my favorite Italian tomato sauce recipes.

• I've made this often using dried parsley and basil and it works just as well because the oil drizzled over it all moistens the herbs.