Spaghetti Alla Carrettiera

Ingredients:
* 1 pound pasta (spaghetti or your preferred type)
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
* 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
* Salt and black pepper to taste
* Fresh basil leaves
* Grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions:
* Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining.
* In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for about 1-2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant.
* Add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes start to soften and release their juices.
* Season the tomato mixture with salt and black pepper to taste. Add basil.
* Once the pasta is cooked, add it to the skillet with the tomato mixture. Toss everything together, adding a bit of the reserved pasta cooking water to create a light sauce that coats the pasta evenly.