Potato Gnocchi with Spicy Tomato Sauce

Gnocchi: Boil or steam the potatoes for 30 minutes, until thoroughly tender. Remove from the heat and remove their skins.

Transfer to a bowl and mash with potato masher or a fork or put through the medium blade of a food mill. Work in the egg yolks, olive oil, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the flour, 1/2 cup at a time.

Place a few tablespoons of flour on the work surface and turn out the dough. Kneed gently for 3 to 5 minutes. The dough should be supple and smooth. Add a bit of flour if it's too sticky. Flour your hands and work surface. Divide the dough into 8 pieces. Roll out each piece into a sausage shape about 1/2 inch thick.

Using a sharp knife, cut 1/2 inch pieces and press each piece gently against the inside curve of a fork. Keep flouring your hands so the dough doesn't stick. Cover the gnocchi with a clean kitchen towel and set aside, in the refrigerator if you will not be cooking them within the hour, while you make the sauce.

For Sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the garlic. When it begins to color add the tomatoes, sugar, red pepper flakes, thyme and salt. Cook, stirring often, for 20-30 minutes, until the tomatoes are cooked down and beginning to stick to the pan.

Stir in the basil, simmer for a few more minutes, and remove from the heat. Put through the medium blade of a food mill. Adjust salt and add pepper if desired.

Lightly oil a 2-3 quart gratin dish. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

To cook the gnocchi, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add two teaspoons salt and a tablespoon of olive oil to the pot and cook the gnocchi in batches. They will stick to the bottom of the pot, then float up to the surface. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon no more than 1 minute after they float to the top.

Drain very briefly on kitchen towels, then transfer to the gratin dish. Gently stir in the tomato sauce and the mozzarella. Heat through in the oven for 20 minutes, until the sauce is beginning to sizzle and the cheese is beginning to melt.