Tag Archives: bacon

Pasta with Peas and Pancetta

1 T salt
1 small carrot
1 stalk celery
3 T olive oil
6 oz chopped pancetta
6 cloves garlic, sliced thickly
¼ c chopped fresh basil
2 T chopped fresh Italian parsley
¼ t red pepper flakes
12 oz canned Italian style tomatoes, drained, peeled, and chopped, juice reserved
1 c white wine
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
1 c peas
1 lb penne pasta
6 T freshly grated romano cheese

Bring a large pot of water with the salt to a boil over high heat. Make a mirepoix with the carrot, celery, and onion by finely chopping or gently whirling them in a food processor until just blended. In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the pancetta; sauté until it starts to brown, 2-3 minutes.  Add the prepared mirepoix, garlic, basil, parsley, and red pepper flakes and sauté until tender, 3-4 minutes.

Stir in the tomatoes and cook until their water has evaporated, 7 minutes or so. Deglaze the pan with wine and continue cooking to reduce liquid by half. Add the reserved tomato juice, the ½ t salt, and ¼ t pepper and bring to a boil. Simmer until thickened to a sauce-like consistency, 10-12 minutes. Stir in the peas and cook until tender, 3-5 minutes.

Cook the pasta in the boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and return to pot. Pour the sauce over the pasta and simmer over a low heat, stirring constantly until the pasta is well coated, about three minutes. Turn the pasta out onto a warmed serving dish and sprinkle with the cheese. Serve immediately.

Asparagus Roll-Ups

10 slices white bread, crusts removed
1 8 oz tub whipped cream cheese
1 can asparagus spears
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 stick butter, melted
grated parmesan cheese

Roll slices of bread thin with rolling pin. Combine cream cheese and bacon, spread over slices of bread covering right to the edges. Place an asparagus spear at each edge of bread and roll up. Dip each roll in melted butter, then roll in parmesan cheese. (At this point, you can place the rolls on cookie sheets and put in the freezer. When frozen, store in freezer bags for later use.)

When ready to use, slightly thaw rolls and cut each one into three pieces. Place on baking sheet and bake at 400 for 12 minutes. Let sit on sheet for several minutes after baking for easier removal.

Broccoli Salad

Dressing
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c sugar
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

Salad
1/2 c raisins
1/2 lb bacon, fried and crumbled
1 1/2 c sunflower seeds
1 bunch broccoli, chopped
1/2 c minced onion

Mix all dressing ingredients. Refrigerate, and let stand overnight. Right before serving, toss with remaining ingredients.

Notes: This is very unusual and good.

Wilted Lettuce

This comes originally from M.L.’s kitchen.

6 slices of bacon
½ c sliced green onion
¼ c vinegar
¼ c water
2 t sugar
½ t salt
8 c leaf lettuce torn into bite-sized pieces
6 radishes, sliced thin
1 hard cooked egg, chopped

In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon; drain, cool and crumble. Add onions to drippings in skillet; cook over low heat until onion is tender,a bout 3 minutes. Add vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and bacon. Cook and stir until boiling. Place lettuce in large bowl; pour hot dressing over lettuce; toss till well coated. Garnish with radish slices and chopped egg. Note: Salad should not be made ahead and refrigerated.

Chili con Queso

I got this from a friend who lived in Bolivia. A great party dip!

Brown 3 slices diced bacon and one small onion, chopped, until bacon is crispy and onion is slightly brown. Add 1 small can (10 oz) tomatoes, drained, 2 jalapenos finely chopped, 1 clove of garlic finely chopped, and ½ t salt. Cook over low heat for ten minutes. Melt in 1 pound of Velveeta cheese very slowly, stirring occasionally. Serve over a candle with Dorito chips.

Jeannie Harper’s Garbanzo Bean Soup 1971 or Shannon’s Belly Button Soup

This is a meal in itself along with French bread in the wintertime. Better the second day. It is known in our family as “Belly Button Soup” because Shannon has a “thing” about that word and when she first saw garbanzo beans, she went crazy because they looked like belly buttons.

1 pound dried garbanzo beans
2 pounds potatoes
½ pound bacon
2 onions
2 ham hocks
2 beef soup bones (I’ve left these out and it is still good)
Few shakes of Bijol
1-2 cans of chorizo

Soak beans overnight in enough water to cover. Drain. Put beans, beef, and ham bones into a very large pot with lots of water (Jeannie says 4 quarts, but I’ve never found a pot big enough).  Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer. Fry chopped bacon and onion and add to soup. Add salt and enough Bijol to make broth pale yellow. Simmer several hours. About two hours before dinner, add potatoes (in eighths) and sliced chorizo (remove lard first).

Seven Layer Salad by M.L.

In deep glass or pottery dish (9×11 or 10×12” round) layer ingredients as given :
Head lettuce, broken in pieces
Celery, diced small
Green onions, sliced, include tops
Frozen or fresh peas, cooked but not overdone
Frost with one cup mayonnaise
Sprinkle heavily with parmesan cheese
Top with crumbled bacon
Do not toss.

Baked Beans

1 16-18 oz can pork and beans
2 Tbsp brown sugar
¼ tsp dry mustard
¼ c catsup
2 slices bacon, chopped

Combine ingredients.  Bake covered at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover. Bake another 20 minutes.

1 16-18 oz can pork and beans

2 Tbsp brown sugar

¼ tsp dry mustard

¼ c catsup

2 slices bacon, chopped

Combine ingredients.  Bake covered at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover. Bake another 20 minutes.

French Epicurean Peas

Mom always served these with leg of lamb.

4 slices bacon, chopped
1 Tbsp chopped onion
1 Tbsp flour
1 #2 can peas, drained
salt and pepper
1 c light cream or evaporated milk
1 c chopped fresh mushrooms
2 Tbsp butter

Partially fry bacon.  Add onion. Cook until soft and yellow.  Add flour and blend. Add peas and cream.  Cool until thick, stirring occasionally.  Cook mushrooms in butter 5 minutes. Add to peas and season.  Serves 6.