Linguini with Clam Sauce

As the weather starts to warm we tend to want a lighter fare. Linguini with Clam sauce is a perfect way to stay elegant but light. It's perfect for those warm nights when you want to eat a nice meal on the deck by candlelight. Over the years I have made this dish as simple as possible so that it can be perfectly created on a weeknight.....

Ingredients:
2 T. olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
dash red pepper flakes
1/4 white wine
1 can white clam sauce
1 can whole clams, with juice
1 can chopped clams, with juice
6 T. butter
chopped fresh parsley
1 lb. cooked linguini
1 lb. little neck clams (optional)

Heat olive oil in saute pan and add garlic cloves and red pepper flakes to taste. Be careful not to burn, garlic cooks quickly. Add can of clam sauce and clams with juices. Once it begins to boil bring down to simmer. Add wine and 4 T. butter. Cover and simmer until pasta is done. Just before tossing with pasta, add 2 T. butter to round out flavor and chopped fresh parsley. Toss with linguini and serve.

Note: for a more romantic flare, add fresh littleneck clams to sauce 5 minutes before finished. Allow to steam open and toss with pasta.