Simple Chicken Pasta Dinner

This is a dish that my friend Kerry and I concocted many years ago, during those long summer school holidays, to satiate our mutual craving for tomatoes.
I've since made a few adaptations, but the result is still simple, delicious, and oh, so tomatoey!

Use as much or as little of the following as you like:
pasta (penne or fusilli are quite nice)
chicken, cut into cubes
soya sauce
salt
sugar
cornstarch
olive oil
minced garlic
chopped onion
3-4 ripe tomatoes, peeled and chopped
fresh or dried herbs (e.g. thyme, rosemary, origanum or basil)
black pepper

Cook pasta according to packet instructions. After draining, stir through a little olive oil to prevent sticking.

Season chicken as follows: Into the bowl of chicken pieces, add a dash of salt, a dash of sugar, and moisten well with soya sauce. Bind with about a teaspoon of cornstarch. (This entire step is optional, but my Chinese husband maintains that all meat should be seasoned like this, and he can actually taste the difference when I don't do it and pretend I did...)

Fry onions and garlic in oil for about a minute. Add chicken to hot oil and fry, stirring regularly, till cooked on the outside. Chuck in your chopped tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Turn heat down a little and cook for about 20 minutes, till chicken is cooked through. Check seasoning and adjust salt if necessary.
Immediately before serving, sprinkle with herbs and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve large bowls of pasta topped generously with sauce. You can sprinkle some cheddar or parmesan on top if you wish. Perfectly accompanied by a chilled glass of white wine.

This is what we'll be having for dinner tonight. I'll be thinking of you, Kerry!