CSA cooking: simple tomato pasta

basket inventory: small bunch of chard, kale, parsley, quince, navel oranges, mandarins, limes, lemons, lot of carrots, radishes, 2 kind of lettuce, macadamia nuts, field greens, cilantro, celery

yes i watch Food Network. i do have some issues (no me gusta Emeril, why are they doing a contest to see who is the next Iron Chef?? no Ramsay and no vegetarian shows) but catch myself watching it from time to time (i do like Chopped!).
This morning i was watching Giada when i realized that she had this simple and yummy pasta recipe that would go perfect with at least a few of the carrots we got from the basket...i didnt have some of the ingredients form the original recipe so i made some modifications.

EASY TOMATO PASTA (modified from Giada's recipe)

• 1# pasta
• olive oil
  
• 2-3 cloves garlic
• 1 large onion in thin slices
• 3 carrots, diced
• s & p, chili flakes (optional), lime juice (?) and/or SPIKE
  
• fresh basil, finely sliced
  
• 1/2-1 tiny can tomato paste
• parm cheese

cook the pasta until it is just about finished, drain- but reserve AT LEAST 2c. water (i actually just fill a 4c. measuring cup, b/c really you never know)
in a large saucepan: oil, onions and garlic, soften. add the carrots and salt (unlike Giada, i wait to put pepper in) and cook a little more until everything is soft and the onion bits have a little bit of golden color. add the tom paste and the pasta water, a cup at a time until you have the sauce consistency that you like (and that will cover all of the pasta!)-dont throw out the pasta water until you are about to serve, it might get thick and you will need more of it. Turn down the heat, add seasoning/chili and taste until you like it (i even add lime juice b/c i like tart!). toss the pasta and add the basil until it everything is well mixed.
place in a large serving bowl and add the cheese (or have it on the side, some people dont like it-crazy i know).