The simplest pasta possible.

In about 1966, I was living in London's Fulham, where I met an Italian language student called Natascia. She was half Russian, half Italian.

Neither of us had much money at the time, so we would occasionally dine together when she invariably cooked the very simple Spaghetti dish called 'Olio e Aglio'; the favourite late night dish of all Italian students.

As the name suggests (if you speak Italian), it is simply made with Spaghetti, tossed into gently sautéed Olive oil and Garlic. I seem to remember that she also added some Chicken Stock Cube and a few chili flakes, to the lightly fried, and copious amounts of, Garlic. It was very simple but delicious.

I've made the dish hundreds of times since then, but have never managed to get the exact same flavour that she achieved. She must have had some magic in her hands.

Occasionally I make the same dish but add just a very small amount of tinned chopped Tomatoes (about a serving spoon full), which changes everything. I just wish I could get my recipe to taste like hers. 

Sadly, the lovely Natascia died in 2009, in the awful earthquake in L'Aguila in Italy. The earthquake struck during the night, so I imagine she was simply crushed to death as she slept.

I shall keep on trying to get it right; I feel I owe it to her!

You can find the easy recipe everywhere.