From Solo Lisa's Kitchen: Pasta With Bacon And Peas



Thanks to everyone for their kind and supportive comments on the last post! I feel a lot better, and even though work is going to be psychotic for the next few weeks, I think I'm in better shape to face it. I'm going to take it easy with blogging for the next few weeks so I can focus better in the office.

This also means a break from my "cook once a week" resolution, so this will be the last recipe for a while. Weeks ago, I made pasta with bacon and peas based on a recipe in a back issue of Everyday Food magazine--sort of a modified pasta alla carbonara. The pasta turned out light and tasty and was very quick and easy to make.

Ingredients:
  • Coarse salt and ground pepper
  • 4 slices bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 2 shallots, halved and thinly sliced
  • 10 ounces frozen peas, thawed
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 18 ounces fresh angel hair pasta [I used boxed spaghettini]
Instructions:
  1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium until crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to a papert towel-lined plate to drain (leave fat in skillet).
  2. Add shallots to skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Add peas and half-and-half; season with salt and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
  3. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water; drain pasta, and return to pot. Pour sauce over pasta; toss to combine, adding some reserved pasta water a little at a time to coat. Sprinkle with bacon, and serve immediately.


I made enough pasta for 2 days of lunches and made baked salmon and zucchini for 2 other days. I also cut up kiwis and watermelon for a simple fruit salad.

15 comments

  1. OMG I'm so hungry now. And it's after midnight!

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  2. Those look SO DAMN GOOD! Well done!

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  3. Oooh, that looks so yummy! Gotta try that. Love the way you cut up watermelon and kiwi – what a great dessert! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. this looks delicious!! I get everyday food too & i've had good luck with the recipes; they make me feel like I actually know what im doing!!

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  5. this looks delicious!! I get everyday food too & i've had good luck with the recipes; they make me feel like I actually know what im doing!!

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  6. Umm.. YUM!!!!

    I am so trying this for lunch next week. This week has been BBQ chicken and mashed potatoes.. but I've been craving for pasta lately.

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  7. you are on a roll chef. that fruit looks good.

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  8. Sounds delicious, looks delicious... I'm so in, definitely going to try this one out.

    Ripped Nylon

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  9. omg lisa, the food looks so delicious..
    i want to taste those food..
    yumm..~~

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  10. I could eat a HUGE bowl of that right now. It look amazing!

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  11. Holy crap that all looks so good!!

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  12. So you leave the "fat (oil from bacon)" as your oil to make the sauce o_O

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  13. Jane, indeed you do. It gives the sauce a smoky flavour, and when you consider the ratio of sauce to pasta it's not that much fat.

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  14. i'm normally not so into peas, but pasta with peas and bacon is a great combination

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