Having had to schlep to the LCBO and to Shoppers Drug Mart* after work yesterday, I had only enough energy to put together one of my favourite carbo-loading dinners: approx. 25 minutes from start to finish.
Crispy Bacon Pasta
Ingredients (for 2 servings):
- 1/2 lb. pasta of your choice (I use whole wheat spaghetti or spaghettini for this)
- as much bacon (of your choosing) as you'd like (for me, this is approx 1/2 pound per 2 servings)
- healthy splash of olive oil (because olive oil is, of course, healthy for you!)
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, smashed but not chopped
- red wine vinegar (if you like it)
- chopped fresh parsley (if you have it)
- ground black pepper
- grating cheese of your choice (I use parmesan or romano for this)
Put on a big pot with lots of water for the pasta.
Meanwhile, chop the bacon into 1/2 inch widths. You can use any kind of bacon for this. If you want to go fancy, grab some pancetta at your local deli. My personal favourite right now is PC Thick Sliced Bacon. (I don't know what I would do without catering help from The President, frankly).
Put in a cold frying pan with a big splash of olive oil and saute on medium heat until starting to get crispy. Throw in the garlic cloves and remove when they start to get brown. There will be lots of fat in the pan. Set aside.
By now, your water should be just about ready to receive the pasta. Salt the water and throw in your pasta. (Skip the oil in the water - what is the point of that, anyway?). Boil until done to your taste. Put the pan with the bacon back on the stove on medium, then drain the pasta. Throw the pasta into the frying pan and stir around until it's all covered. Put in a slug of red wine vinegar if you're using it and cook 1 minute more.
Use tongs to pick up the pasta and put it on the plates. There will still be lots of oil and bacon fat in the pan... if you're me, take a big piece of crusty bread, mop it up and scarf it down as an appetizer. Cover with a blanket of grated cheese, pepper and parsley and serve.
MMMMM. If you like bacon you will probably make this every night for a week and gain 5 pounds. Don't blame me, though - you've been warned!
Modifications:
- some people like chopped tomato in this. I think that's weird, but hey.
- this is obviously not vegetarian, although I suspect that a version made with chopped hazelnuts or pine nuts (if you really want to push out the boat) would be delicious (stolen from a salad dressing idea by JR!!!)
**the Shoppers is not a chore, really - I left there having spent $100.00 on such essential foodstuffs as Cool Whip, frozen french fries, Lay's Spicy Curry Chips. NEVER SHOP WHEN HUNGRY.
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