Pasta with Tomato Pesto

This past week was hot. Like, really summery 90 degrees HOT. I'm definitely a summer person, and as much as I love such temperatures outside by the pool or inside with the A/C on, I do not love it in April when the building hasn't turned on the A/C yet. Thus, most of the week was spent remaining as stationary as possible so as not to sweat to death and finding things to cook that wouldn't further overheat me. Enter this tomato pesto recipe that I make about once a week during the spring and summer months. The original recipe is from an issue of Women's Health that I bought about two years ago, so it's also healthy and under 500 calories per serving, if you care about that sort of thing. Normally I serve it hot, but it tasted just as good cooled after rinsing the noodles under cold water. So, without further ado:

Pasta with Tomato Pesto

3/4 lb penne pasta
1/2 lb (about 4) ripe Roma or plum tomatoes
8-10 large, fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp unsalted roasted almonds
1-2 large garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil
Grated parmesan for topping

1. Boil pasta. Obviously. If you don't want anything hot to pass your lips, rinse the pasta under cold water when you're done.
2. For the pesto, cut tomatoes into large chunks and place in the food processor with basil leaves. Follow with the almonds, garlic, red pepper, and salt and pulse until finely blended.
3. To add the olive oil: most food processors have a feed tube at the top with a little cup thingy that fits into it (what the heck is that called?). Most little cup thingies have little holes on the bottom that, if filled with olive oil, will allow it to drip in slowly while blending so that mixture emulsifies properly. If yours has a holey cup thingie, use it. If not, just pour it all in and blend. There, how technical of me.
4. Combine pesto and pasta. Top with parmesan. Eat. See? That was simple. And healthy. And will not cause you to overheat and become even more cranky and sweaty while making dinner. Awesome.