Basic pasta tomato sauce

Ok, first recipe ever. This is great, typical student food - pasta - and the first thing I made when I arrived at uni just a week ago, and can easily be vegetarian.

Ingredients
Oil (I use olive oil for things with pasta)
1/2 onion
1/2 pepper
Few mushrooms
1/2 carrot
Jar of tomato sauce OR tin of tomatoes

Method
1. Fry the onion with the pepper and carrots, then throw in the mushrooms. The mushrooms will soak up a lot of oil! Of course, you can use whatever vegetables you like, or whatever you've got.

2. Tip in however much of the tomatoes you want to use. I find I usually use 1/2 tin/jar.

3. At this point, you might want to add some herbs - definitely seasoning though! Try basil, marjoram, cayenne or chilli. Dried herbs can last ages and are useful for a lot of things.

4. Turn the heat down so the sauce simmers, and leave for about 20 minutes. This is really easy - if it looks too runny, leave the lid off so it can reduce; if too thick, add some more water. Remember to stir it from time to time.

5. Cook the pasta. Use boiling water with some salt and oil. The salt helps the pasta to keep it's shape, and the oil stops it sticking together. Pasta usually takes about 10 minutes, though it'll be longer if you're using wholewheat pasta. The only way you can be certain is to test it! Do this by either tasting or cutting through a piece (with your fingernail, a knife, whatever - I don't care), there should be no dry uncooked bit in the middle (unless you like that - but remember, your body can't digest that!).

6. When the pasta's done, strain it. Either use a colainder/sieve or the lid for the saucepan. Put in a pasta dish/on a plate/in whatever's clean and pour the sauce over the top. Top off with grated cheese.

Suggestions and tips
Use whatever vegetables you've got.
You can use the wooden spoon for stirring both the pasta and the sauce.
You can layer the sauce with cheese sauce (coming soon!) and lasagne to make a baked dish, though you may need less.
You can make double quantities and put half in the fridge. To reheat, just put in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
If you make double quantities of pasta, you can have pasta salad the next day, with no cooking!
If you want to use meat, add mince or chopped bacon to the vegetables after about 10 minutes. Stir and wait for the meat to change from red to brown, then continue as normal.